CLAREMONT, Ca. – The UC Santa Cruz women's basketball team dropped a tight 58-55 battle with the CMS Athenas in their 2024-25 season opener. The Slugs were led by Jenna Gorton who earned a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds while Talysha Wilkerson chimed in for 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists. UCSC was perfect from the free throw line, going 9-9 while they shot 43.1% (22-51). The Slugs struggled from downtown, only connecting on two three-pointers to shoot 15.4%. UC Santa Cruz will stay in Claremont for the weekend as they will take on Pomona-Pitzer on the other side of Sixth Street on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
 
How It Happened
The Slugs struck first with a basket from Emilie Ngo, but CMS went on a 9-0 run to take the lead at 9-2. CMS led the rest of the first quarter, but the Slugs chipped away at the lead, closing it to 18-16 with baskets from Talysha Wilkerson, Danielle Tyner, and Emilie Ngo.
 
UCSC regained the lead in the second quarter as they started the quarter on a 6-0 to go up 22-18. The Slugs held onto their lead for the remainder of the quarter but not by much as CMS hit a three at the end to cut the deficit to one at 32-31 heading into the halftime break.  
 
Out of the halftime break, the two teams went back and forth briefly, working to a 38-38 tie before CMS picked up the intensity and pushed to a seven point lead at 50-43 heading into the fourth quarter. CMS hit a jumper 27 seconds into the fourth to extend the lead to nine points, but the Slugs patiently got to work, chipping away at the lead and pulling within three points at the five minute mark with a layup from Jenna Gorton. CMS was able to capitalize on a few opportunities to take a 58-51 lead. UC Santa Cruz went on a 4-0 run down the stretch but came up just short as they fell 58-55 to the Athenas.