The second day of the Caltech-Occidental Fall Classic brought out the best in the Caltech women’s basketball team, which took visiting Lewis & Clark College to double-overtime on the heels off a double-double from sophomore guard Samantha D’Costa (San Jose, Calif. / St. Francis). D’Costa’s double-double marked the first of the year for the women’s […]
The second day of the Caltech-Occidental Fall Classic brought out the best in the Caltech women’s basketball team, which took visiting Lewis & Clark College to double-overtime on the heels off a double-double from sophomore guard Samantha D’Costa (San Jose, Calif. / St. Francis).
D’Costa’s double-double marked the first of the year for the women’s team and while the game did go two extra periods, D’Costa managed to complete the feat within regulation. D’Costa has started the year slow with her shot and had yet to reach double-figures in either of the Beavers’ first two games but made clear early she was ready to put those games behind her, as she scored the Beavers’ first six points including a fastbreak layup to open the game. D’Costa’s fast start proved metaphorical for the rest of the team as well. The Beavers led the Pioneers 28-16 at halfime and held their opponents to just eight points in each of the first two quarters thanks in part to the Pioneers going 0-for-12 from three.
The Pioneers recovered quickly in the second half and answered with a six-point run of their own to bring the game within six. The visitors eventually earned their way back to a share of the lead, but 10 fourth quarter points from sophomore guard Grace Peng (San Ramon, Calif. / California) stymied the Pioneers and played a role in the Beavers coming back from a six-point deficit with seven minutes to play and eventually force a first extra period. The Beavers fell behind again in the first five-minute overtime period but recovered when junior Madeline Schemel (Westport, Conn. / Staples) tied the game once again with a short jumper from D’Costa with two seconds left that rattled around the rim before falling in. The Beavers met a similar fate in the second overtime frame but had multiple chances to win the game when Peng first fired a three-pointer with eight seconds to go and then stole the ball back as soon as the Pioneers began to transition back down the court. The sophomore finished the game with 19 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals and along with D’Costa, did so without taking a breather. Both players played the game’s entirety, all 50 minutes worth. Junior guard Nika Haleftiras (San Diego, Calif. / Our Lady of Peace) also maintained a steady scoring presence for the Beavers, shooting 6-for-11 from the field for 13 points to go along with seven rebounds and five steals.
Head Coach Bridgette Reyes and the Beavers will have a week to get ready for Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in their SCIAC opener. The game is set for Dec. 2 at 5:00 p.m.
