CLAREMONT, Calif. - The second-seeded Claremont-Mudd-Scripps women's lacrosse team battled back from a four-goal deficit int he fourth quarter to top-seeded Pomona-Pitzer to get to within one goal twice, but the Sagehens were able to hang on and take a 15-12 win over the Athenas on Saturday afternoon in the SCIAC Championship.

The win improves Pomona-Pitzer to 17-2 on the season and gives them the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. CMS drops to 12-7 on the year with the loss, with all seven losses coming to nationally ranked teams, including three to the Sagehens (as well as Williams, Trinity, Colorado College and Chicago). 

CMS trailed 11-7 going into the fourth, when Grace Minturn was able to get the Athenas back within 11-8. Pomona-Pitzer answered that goal, but the Athenas rattled off three in a row to close to within 12-11. Maggie Griffis started the run with 11:51 to go, Minturn made it a 12-10 game with 9:12 to go, and Kate Larson pulled the Athenas within 12-11 with 8:15 still left on the clock. 

Pomona-Pitzer scored to go ahead 13-11 with 6:12 to go, but Ava Goldson scored with 4:34 to go off a feed from Kate Larson. The Athenas won the ensuing draw and had a chance to tie, but the Sagehens got the stop and Caili Cross scored with 2:07 to go to give the Sagehens back an insurance goal. 

CMS got the ball back, but Scarlett Lang forced a key turnover for Pomona-Pitzer and the Sagehens were able to run out the clock, scoring one final goal at the buzzer to make the final score 15-12. 

Senior goalie Holly Shankle had a spectacular effort in defeat, tallying 15 saves. Fellow senior Maggie Griffis led CMS with three goals, while Minturn, Larson, Paige Morgan, and Amelia Ulmer each had two. Senior Natalie Teare led the defense with three caused turnovers.