LOS ANGELES — Occidental (1-0) defeated Pacific (OR) (1-2) 98-86 on Monday at Rush Gymnasium. Occidental scored 68 points in the paint and held a 46-37 rebounding edge. The Tigers also had 10 steals, 12 assists and 27 bench points in the win.
Occidental trailed 14-13 before answering with a 10-0 run from 5:07 to 3:24 in the first quarter, with
Ila Giblin,
Micah Elegores,
Lexi London and
Quinn Godfrey all contributing as the Tigers moved in front 23-14.
Earlier, Occidental established offense near the basket, getting the opening layup from
Chelsea Lee and early inside finishes from Elegores and Godfrey while Pacific (OR)'s 3-point shooting kept the score close. Occidental also created pressure defensively, recording six steals and forcing seven Pacific (OR) turnovers while committing just one turnover in the quarter. London added two late baskets, and although Pacific (OR) hit a 3-pointer in the final minute, Occidental finished the quarter ahead 28-21.
Occidental reached a 53-38 lead on
Joniya Woods' layup off an assist from London with 1:40 left in the second quarter, but Pacific (OR) cut into the margin before halftime. Earlier, London opened the quarter with a 3-pointer and added a layup, while Godfrey scored twice inside as Occidental moved ahead 43-31 with 6:05 remaining. Elegores added a jumper, assisted Godfrey for another basket, and Occidental turned extra possessions into points with Sammy Velasquez and
Lauryn Lacap free throws. Pacific (OR) answered late with Alyssa McMullen's 3-pointer and free throw, more free-throws, and Kendel Kuehl's 3-pointer with one second left, leaving Occidental ahead 55-49 at halftime.
Occidental controlled the third quarter by shooting 10-for-17, scoring 20 of its 21 points in the paint and holding Pacific (OR) to 4-for-13 from the floor in a 21-13 quarter. Pacific (OR) closed to 61-56 on Brooke Burke's 3-pointer, but Elegores took over and scored Occidental's next five points, including a three-point play getting the layup to go plus the foul. Occidental continued to get stops and rebounds late, with London and Godfrey adding baskets in the final three minutes, and the Tigers finished the quarter ahead 76-62.
Occidental's fourth-quarter cushion grew behind an 8-0 run from 8:34 to 6:07, turning a 76-65 game into an 84-65 advantage as Velasquez scored twice from the floor and added two free throws around
Lexi London's layup. Before that stretch, Occidental absorbed Pacific (OR)'s early free throws and produced stops, including
Ila Giblin's steal and three straight defensive rebounds by Woods. Pacific (OR) later cut the margin to 88-80 on Mylie Lempea's 3-pointer with 3:16 left, but Occidental answered with Godfrey scoring at the rim and at the line at 2:26 before Velasquez assisted London's jumper at 1:28. Occidental closed the game at the free-throw line, with Velasquez making four in the final 36 seconds and
Nicole Vanegas adding one, finishing a 98-86 win while holding a 15-9 rebounding edge in the quarter.
Occidental Top Performers
Quinn Godfrey
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- 25 points
- 12 field goals made
- 7 rebounds
-70.6 FG%
Micah Elegores
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- 20 points
- 8 field goals made
- 8 rebounds
- 2 steals
Samantha Velasquez
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- 17 points
- 9/10 free throws made
- 4 steals
- 4 assists
Lexi London
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- 17 points
- 8 field goals made
- 4 rebounds
Joniya Woods
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- 10 rebounds
- 9 defensive rebounds
- 5 points
Occidental is 1-0 overall. as they get the win in their home opener on the season. Pacific (OR) is 1-2 overall. The Tigers are back in action on Sunday, November 15th at 1:00pm when they take on the Whitworth University Pirates.
