Box Score Three Banana Slugs reached double figures as UC Santa Cruz shut down Claremont-Mudd-Scripps defensively in a 62-41 win Saturday afternoon.
UC Santa Cruz improved to 7-1 with their sixth straight win. It is the best start in program history.

After the Athenas hit the first two baskets for a 4-0 lead, UC Santa Cruz went on a 13-0 run and took a 13-5 lead after one quarter. The Banana Slugs eventually held the visitors without a field goal for over 13 minutes, but the Athenas went to the free-throw line enough to keep the game to within six points at halftime.
In the third, the Athenas got within four at 28-24, but a 16-8 UC Santa Cruz run built the lead back to 44-32 after three quarters. 
UC Santa Cruz closed the game outscoring CMS 18-9 in the last quarter to seal the victory.

Kaylee Murphy had a double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds, along with a season-high seven assists. Ashley Kowack added 16 points, while Aubrey Wagner scored 13 to go with four steals. Tess Oakley-Stilson had eight points with five steals.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps dropped to 3-7 and committed 25 turnovers, 13 of which were Banana Slug steals. Kayla Ishibashi led the Athenas with 12 points, and Austyn Masuno scored 10 with 13 rebounds and a block.  The Athenas were held to 12-47 shooting (25.5%) for the game, while UC Santa Cruz shot 40.6% (26-64) for the game.

UC Santa Cruz closes the December Classic on Monday when they host second-ranked Whitman College.