MILWAUKEE – The MSOE basketball team hosted the first-ever MSOE STEM Classic as they kicked off their season on Friday afternoon against CMSC, as the Raiders mounted an impressive comeback to force overtime, but came up just short against the Athenas to open the four-team tournament.

FINAL SCORE
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Athenas – 56

MSOE RAIDERS - 51

HOW IT HAPPENED

• MSOE (0-1, 0-0 NACC) and CMSC (1-0) exchanged baskets to open the season, with MSOE taking an early lead on a jump shot from Mahima Chokshi and a layup from Halena Hill.  The Athenas would pressure the MSOE offense, using full court defensive sets to disrupt the Raider offense as CMSC 13-3 run to close the first quarter, with MSOE trailing 20-13 after the first frame.  The second quarter would see six minutes eclipse without a basket, as both teams locked in on the defensive end.  The Athenas would end the scoring drought with two free throws as the teams went to halftime, with CMSC leading MSOE 27-16.
• Coming out of the break, the Raiders defensive intensity remained high, slowly working the Athenas lead down to single digits at the end of the third quarter, with another layup from Hill bring the Raider deficit to nine points.  To open the fourth quarter, MSOE went on a 12-4 run, as Elly Kohl found a cutting Shelby Glodowski, who converted a chance in the lane to bring the score to 39-38 in favor of the Athenas.  With one minute remaining, a jump shot from Lana Kerley gave the Raiders a 45-43 lead, but CMSC converted a layup with eighteen seconds left, sending the first game of the STEM Classic to overtime.
• After the Athenas hit a couple free throws to open the overtime period, Chokshi would drain a three point shot to give MSOE a one point advantage.  CMSC would get a critical stop, converting back-to-back possessions as they went up by three points late in the contest.  A couple free throws from Dani Mendez would bring the Raiders back within a possession, but the Athenas would hit a massive three point shot with just eleven seconds left, as the Raiders fell 56-51.

MSOE STAT TRACKER
Points – Mahima Chokshi (13)
Rebounds – Lana Kerley (11)
Assists – Shelby Glodowski (2)
Steals – Dani Mendez and Shelby Glodowski (3)
Blocks – Four with one

WHO'S ON DECK
The Raiders will play in the consolation game of the MSOE STEM Classic against Rose-Hulman tomorrow, November 8^th, directly following the Men's Basketball game vs UW-Stevens Point.  Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 P.M.

For up-to-the-minute MSOE Raiders news, visit us at MSOERaiders.com. You can also follow the Red & White on Twitter @MSOE_Raiders and @msoe_raiders on Instagram.