CLAREMONT , Calif. -- Kristyn Ross' goal with just under 3 minutes left in regulation gave Claremont-Mudd-Scripps just enough cushion to hold on for an 11-9 victory over Azusa Pacific Thursday evening in the 2 schools' first-ever meeting in women's water polo.

Azusa Pacific was in the midst of rallying from a 3-goal deficit until Ross' tally found the back of the net with 2:47 left to put the Athenas back up by 2 goals.

CMS had led throughout much of the game, using back-to-back second period goals by Abigayle Lin and Jennifer Ward to assume a 4-2 lead. While the Athenas never again relinquished the lead, Azusa Pacific kept knocking on the door of tying the game with goals by Lindsey Kimbell and Jennelee Stacey.

Early in the fourth period, Claremont-Mudd took a commanding 3-goal lead at 10-7. The Cougars rallied though with scores from Melissa McKown and Ashley Elven to pull back to within a goal of the Athenas following Elevn's score with 3:24 remaining in the game.

However, less than 40 seconds later, Ross converted the game-clincher.

Kimbell accounted for 4 of the Cougars' 9 goals and in the process registered her fifth multi-goal game of the year. McKown also recorded her first multi-goal game as a Cougar with a pair of second-half counters.

With the loss, the Cougars fall to 4-5 on the season, while Claremont-Mudd-Scripps improves to 3-3. The Cougars will be out of the pool for 3 weeks, not returning to action until March 19 when they open the Cal Baptist Invite March 19 against Concordia at 9 a.m. in Riverside.