CLAREMONT, Calif. -- Building their lead to eight points halfway through the fourth quarter, the Lewis & Clark Pioneers closed out a 68-63 victory over the Claremont Mudd-Scripps Athenas on Tuesday night at Linde Activities Center.

The victory was the first of the season for Lewis & Clark, which welcomed back its only All-Northwest Conference selection from last season, Ayisat Afolabi.

In her return, Afolabi (pictured below right) played 24 minutes and scored 13 points off the bench. Overall, Lewis & Clark had four players in double figures, led by Miyah Leith's 19 points.

Kaitlin Mathewson scored 11 points, making three 3-pointers including back-to-back shots in the first quarter to put Lewis & Clark up the game's widest margin, 14-6. The Pios eventually led 23-17 at the end of the quarter, making 5 of 7 3-point attempts, as both Mathewson and Natalie Kelly went 2 for 2. Kelly finished with 13 points, as the Pios shot 47 percent from 3-point range for the second straight game, a season high.

Lewis & Clark's 68 points is its second-highest total in a game this season.

"It feels awesome to finally get over that hump," said Lewis & Clark head coach Asha Jordan. "I think we had a different mindset and we weathered the storms.

"Our defensive effort was tremendous tonight and this team had each other's back in every way tonight. They earned that win from start to finish."

Lewis & Clark scored eight more points off turnovers, 15-7, as Claremont M-S gave the ball away 14 times to the Pios' 12. Mathewson had a game-high three steals with Sara Hogman and Cianna Ochoco grabbing two apiece. Hogman and Ochoco combined for nine points and nine rebounds out of the starting lineup.

The Pioneers' 12 turnovers were their lowest against an NCAA opponent all season.

Leith and Afolabi scored key baskets at the end of each half. Leith's 3-pointer at the buzzer kept the Pios within four points at halftime. The two also scored the final 10 points of the third quarter, including 6 of 6 from the free-throw line, to help Lewis & Clark regain the lead in the final three minutes of the quarter. The Pioneers ended the period up 54-49.

Kailee Severt led the Athenas with a game-best 23 points, while Kris Brackmann scored 13 points for CMS.

The game was the first of three over four days for Lewis & Clark. The Pioneers play at Pomona-Pitzer on Wednesday at 2 p.m. before rounding out their southern California trip with a game at Vanguard on New Year's Day.

Other Northwest Conference Scores - Tuesday

Babson 70, Whitworth 62
Whitman 70, Williams 56
George Fox 84, Bethel (Minn.) 71
Cal Lutheran 69, Pacific Lutheran 57
Warner Pacific 60, Linfield 50