CLAREMONT, CA -- Claremont-Mudd-Scripps outrebounded UC Santa Cruz by a double digit margin and handed the Banana Slugs their first loss of the season today. The Athenas won 52-46 over the Banana Slugs on the second day of the CMS Thanksgiving Classic in Claremont. 

Both teams were coming off wins in their last contest. UC Santa Cruz won 62-56 over Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont on Friday and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won 50-40 over Augsburg College on Friday in Claremont. 

UC Santa Cruz would hold their only lead of the game early in the first half. Sarah Mackey hit a jumper to make the score 2-0 in favor of UC Santa Cruz with 19:35 left in the half. The Athenas would tie the game on a Mara Falahee jumper and then would take the lead for good, at 5-2, on a Kris Brackmann three pointer with 17:43 left in the half. The Slugs would tie the game at 5-5 on a Sara Crane free throw with 13:01 left in the half. The Athenas would take the lead on their next possession and would lead by as many as nine on three occasions, the third occasion was at 21-12 with 3:33 left after a Kailee Severt layup. The Slugs would trim the Athenas' lead to eight at halftime as the Athenas lead 25-17. 

In the second half, the Banana Slugs would the Athenas' lead to one, at 25-24, with 17:05 left in the game on a Mackey layup. The Athenas would expand their lead to nine once again on three occasions, the third coming with 2:34 left at 47-38 on a Severt layup. The Banana Slugs would cut the lead to four, at 50-46, with thirty five seconds left on a Leah Parrish three pointer. Kimberly Scamman would add two free throws for the Athenas and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won 52-46.

Mackey had seventeen points for the Banana Slugs. Scamman had a game high eighteen points for the Athenas. Parrish had fourteen points for the Banana Slugs in the loss. Brackmann had twelve points for the Athenas. 

The Banana Slugs shot 37.8% (17-45) from the field, 25% (3-12) from the three point line and was 52.9% (9-17) from the free throw line. The Athenas shot 39.5% (17-43) from the field, 36.4% (4-11) from the three point line and 77.8% (14-18) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced twenty Athenas turnovers scoring thirteen points off the turnovers while the Athenas' defense forced sixteen turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring twelve points off the turnovers. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps outrebounded UC Santa Cruz 35-24 but the Banana Slugs had four more blocks (5-1) than did the Sagehens. 

The Banana Slugs will play their next game on Friday against University of Puget Sound. The game will be a part of the Pacific Northwest Tournament at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Tipoff is set for 6 pm.