CLAREMONT, Calif. - A career day for Saints sophomore
Kaitlyn Bartash helped Emmanuel break a four-game losing streak on Sunday evening as the Saints trip to California starts with a 66-57 win over the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at Voelkel Gymnasium. The Saints move to 4-5 this season while the loss drops the Sagehens to 6-3, ending their six-game winning streak.
The Sagehens led by as many as five in the opening quarter with the help of back-to-back field goals by
Jadyn Lee, giving Pomona-Pitzer a 17-12 edge. But the Saints would hold the Sagehens scoreless over the final 2:53 while scoring the last five points of the frame, tying the game 17-17 through one quarter.
The Saints made the first major move of the evening, going on an 8-0 run to go up 28-23. The Saints slim lead would hold until halftime as
Jadyn Lee hit a three and a pull-up jumper before
Emily Lee added a three-pointer of her own in the final minutes, as Pomona-Pitzer trailed 35-31 at the half.
Emmanuel extended its lead to nine, 46-37, early in the third quarter with Bartash scoring six points in a 2:22 span. The Sagehens cut the deficit down to five by the end of the quarter, as Saints grad guard
Olivia Matela made the final basket of the third, giving the Saints a 55-50 lead after three quarters.
The Sagehens would only get as close as three in the last quarter as Emmanuel used an 8-0 surge in a 2:06 span, giving them the largest lead of the night, 64-53. Both sides locked down defensively as only six points were scored in the last 5:36, helping the Saints to the 66-57 win.
Bartash finished with career-highs of 18 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists over 33 minutes. Matela added 13 points for the Saints, shooting 5-fo-12 from the floor, including 3-for-9 from beyond the arc. Sophomore
Kalia Saunders also finished with 13 points, shooting 5-for-8 in 19 minutes off the bench.
Jadyn Lee scored 20 points for her fifth 20-point outing of the season, shooting 8-of-19 from the floor. She also tallied a team-high 12 rebounds and four steals.
Sara Chicco posted 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three, while
Emily Lee added 13 points for Pomona-Pitzer.
The Saints wrap up their California swing on Monday, Dec. 30, facing the University of La Verne at 8:00 p.m. EST. The Sagehens wrap up their 2024 with a New Year's Eve game with Wheaton (Mass.) at 5:00 p.m. EST at Voelkel Gym.