Tigers win big on opening night

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2009) – One month ago the Tigers took the court in preparation for the upcoming season. Tonight at Rush Gymnasium the Occidental College women’s basketball team took the first step towards earning their third consecutive Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title with a 94-36 victory over La Sierra University to open their 2009-10 campaign.

In a lopsided game, Oxy opened up a 19-0 lead in the first five minutes of play and cruised to a 49-13 lead at the intermission before shooting 57% from the field in the second half. Each of the 14 players who stepped on the floor scored at least two points. Senior Brittany Mally led all players with 15 points as she was lights-out from three point range, going 4-for-5, while adding six rebounds, four on the offensive end of the court. Also posting double figures was junior Laura Mohler with 12 in just 11 minutes of action.

In her first appearance for the Black and Orange Makenzie Brandon wasted no time transitioning into collegiate basketball. She led all players with six assists, chipping in seven rebounds and eight points in 16 minutes of play, while she and Mally each grabbed three steals. Also playing at Oxy for the first time Marquisha Corley played 26 minutes, scoring eight points and was 2-for-2 at the line. Katelyn Rowe led all players with 11 rebounds in her first college game, adding six points and classmate Liz Little was 2-for-4 from the field for four points.

Returning All-SCIAC players Dior Williams and Stephanie Babij saw limited playing time, but were in fine form for the season opener. Williams posted five steals, four assists and six points while Babij was 3-for-4 from the field to finish with seven points as each players pulled down three rebounds, all on the offensive end of the court.

Britinee Yasukochi, Occidental’s starting point guard, was 2-for-3 from the field with four rebounds while senior Gillian Nugent chipped in eight points with four assists. The sophomore duo of Gabby Hirsh-Gonzalez and Kiana Dobson scored six and four points, respectively. Senior Natalie Kolodinski and junior Samantha Rossi pulled down five rebounds apiece to round out those players who took to the hardwood. Kolodinski and Rowe each had a block in the game as well.

The Tigers will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 20 when they travel to Westmont College with tip-off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.