LOS ANGELES — With 51 bench points and all 13 suited players scoring, the Occidental College women's basketball team cruised past Caltech 83-27 at Rush Gymnasium on Thursday in its first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game.

Ashton Reid (Los Angeles) and Stefanie Young (Hong Kong) led Oxy's balanced offensive attack with 12 points each — career highs for both freshmen. Young went 3 for 5 from beyond the arc and Reid tossed in a pair of three pointers.

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As it typically is against a well-coached and hardworking, but less talented Caltech (0-12, 0-1) team, Thursday was an opportunity for several Oxy (8-2, 1-0) reserves to get some well-earned court time.

"They play against really good competition every day and work very hard so it doesn't surprise me. I thought they were going to do well," Occidental coach Heidi VanDerveer said. "And they don't get same attention or playing time that our starters get so it's nice to see them do well."

Playing in her first game this season after sitting out Oxy's first nine games with a wrist injury, Michelle Lo (Monterey Park) scored four points had two assists and an offensive rebound.

The sharpshooting Lo's 38 percent three-point shooting and eight points per game were key components of Oxy's fourth consecutive SCIAC championship run last season.

"I thought she did very well. Obviously Michelle helps us offensively stretching the defense but she also has a different presence," VanDerveer said. "She plays with the energy and confidence that we need."

The game also marked a handful of firsts for some Oxy bench players.

Gabriela Hirsh-Gonsalez (Santa Rosa) scored four points and had three rebounds in her first action this season, Drew Van Vleck (Ashland, OR) scored her first points of the year, finishing with seven, and Kristen Treat (Riverside) grabbed a career-high six rebounds.

Oxy played without two starters. Tigers point guard Marquisha Corley (Tucson, AZ) and center Elizabeth Messick (Reno, NV) both sat out with injuries.

The Tigers continue SCIAC play on Saturday at the University of La Verne at 5 p.m.

"We have to do a good job tomorrow and Saturday of preparing," VanDerveer said. "Every team is different so we have to get in the mindset of what La Verne is doing."