CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's basketball team came back from a 20-point deficit in the second quarter to take a three-point lead in the fourth, but Occidental was able to close on a 7-0 run over the final 1:35 to take a 60-53 win over the Athenas on Monday evening at Roberts Pavilion. 

Occidental, which is 9-1 in its last 10 games, improves to 11-6 overall and 6-2 in the SCIAC with the win. CMS slips to 5-12 overall and 1-7 in league play, with five of the seven defeats coming down to the final possessions, including a game with Pomona-Pitzer that was tied in the final minute on Saturday, and a defeat at the buzzer to league-leading Whittier in December. 

Katie Resendiz had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and three steals, and converted in the paint with 2:26 to go to tie the score at 53-53. The Athenas earned a stop and had a chance to take the lead, but Occidental was able to secure a defensive rebound, and Paige Yasukochi was able to knock down a big three-pointer with 1:35 left to put the Tigers ahead 56-53. 

The Athenas missed a jumper to cut it to one, and then had a three-point attempt to tie with 35 seconds left, but couldn't convert, and Occidental was able to make all four foul shots down the stretch to secure the win. 

CMS overcame a slow start, as Occidental led 11-6 after the first quarter, and then started the second quarter on a 15-0 run to go ahead 26-6. After an exchange of threes made it 29-9, the Athenas had a 12-0 run late in the half to get back in, capped off by a three-pointer from Amanda Kerner to make it 29-21. 

Kerner knocked down two more three-pointers in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback, putting the Athenas ahead for the first time at 42-40 with a three-pointer, and then hitting another one on the next possession to give CMS a 45-42 advantage. After Occidental went back in front 47-46, Kerner had a fast break lay-up and foul to give CMS a 49-47 lead with 5:24 left. The Tigers scored the next four points and never trailed again, using the 7-0 run at the end to earn the win. 

Kerner finished with 14 points for the Athenas, nine of which came in the fourth quarter. Renee Chong was also in double figures for CMS with 11. 

CMS will be back in action on Saturday when it hosts Caltech for a 2 p.m. contest at Roberts Pavilion.