PASADENA, CALIF. - The Bard College women's basketball team picked up a victory at the buzzer Friday, Nov. 29, as they defeated the California Institute of Technology 57-55 to improve to 4-0 on the season.

The Raptors started out cold offensively, missing their first five shots to start the game and found themselves down by as many as six points during the first. But the visitors were able to cut the lead down to a 13-9 deficit at the end of the quarter thanks to a three pointer from senior guard Caleigh DeCaprio and a team mark of six-for-six from the free throw line.

Bard was able to draw even early in the second, as the squad went on a 6-2 run, capped off by back-to-back baskets from freshman guard Marissa Munsell and junior forward Katie Esposito to tie the game at 15. CalTech then went on a run of their own, scoring eight of the next 10 points, with Grace Peng (San Ramon, Calif.) picking up five during the stretch to put the home team ahead by six late in the quarter. The Beavers eventually pushed the lead up to seven with less than a minute to go, but sophomore guard Jess Rylander scored five points in the final 30 seconds of the quarter. Rylander first hit a three pointer, then came away with a steal and hit a jump shot at the buzzer to cut the CalTech lead to 28-26 going in to the half.

The Raptors took control of the game coming out of the intermission, as sophomore guard Christina Kiser scored nine consecutive points to open up the third quarter, giving Bard the lead in the process. Munsell followed up with a three pointer, stretching the lead to 10 points midway through the third. Following a push by CalTech, Bard was able to add six points late, giving the visitors a 44-34 lead heading into the final period.

In the fourth, the Raptors were able to push their lead up to 11, but the Beavers then started to narrow the deficit. Sahana Saikumar (Arcadia, Calif.) made back-to-back layups, and eventually Peng converted an and-one opportunity to cut the Bard lead to 53-50 with five minutes remaining. With just under two minutes to go and the lead back up to four, Peng picked up another and-one, bringing CalTech back to within a point. She then received two free throws following a shooting foul, and made one-of-two to tie the game at 55 with one minute remaining. Following a Beavers turnover with seven seconds remaining, the Raptors took possession and Esposito was fouled with less than one second remaining. The junior sank both clutch free throws, and Bard picked up a hard-fought 57-55 victory.

On the night, Kiser led the Raptors with 19 points, four rebounds and four steals. Esposito picked up her second double-double of the season, providing 12 points and 10 rebounds. Rylander chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds, and DeCaprio added eight points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. The Raptors scored 16 fast-break points during the game, and were a perfect 17-for-17 from the free throw line.

Bard is right back in action tomorrow, as they compete in the second day of the Thanksgiving Classic against Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.