LOS ANGELES, Calif. – For the fourth time in four years, the Occidental College women's basketball team can call themselves Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship. Although there is one game to play, Tuesday, the Tigers earned at least a share of the title in 2011 with a 48-40 victory over Cal Lutheran University tonight at Rush Gymnasium.

After CLU led for much of the first half, the Occidental defense held Cal Lutheran scoreless over the final two minutes and clawed back to within one point at halftime. The momentum continued into the second half and after Oxy took the lead with 15:43 remaining in regulation, the Tigers never trailed again.

After the Black and Orange earned their biggest cushion of the game at 36-28 with 10:38 to play, a couple of CLU triples cut the lead to two points.

Stephanie Scamman scored a game-high 15 points and provided a crucial three pointer late in the contest. After CLU closed the gap to 41-40 with just over three minutes remaining, Scamman hit from downtown on the ensuing Tigers' possession pushing the lead back to four. Cal Lutheran would not score throughout the remainder of the game.

CLU (13-11, 7-6 SCIAC) pulled down 40, edging out the Tiers by one, also out-rebounding the home squad on the offensive end of the court, 16-12. Scamman finished with a team high 10 rebounds for a double-double while Elizabeth Messick came down with eight, adding three blocks. Katelyn Rowe recorded four blocks in the game for Oxy.

For CLU Brianna Parker grabbed 11 boards to lead all players.

On senior night, in which two Tigers were recognized prior to the game, it was one to remember. Stephanie Babij scored  10 points on 4-for-6 shooting and recorded six rebounds and a block with two assists. Laura Mohler scored nine while handing out three assists and tallying three steals.

Occidental (16-8, 11-2) travels to Pasadena on Tuesday to face off with the Caltech Beavers in the regular season finale. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. prior to the men's game.

Article by Tracy Maple, Sports Information Director