THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - For the final time of the 2014 calendar year, the Cal Lutheran women's basketball team used a strong second half and dominating overtime period to earn a 72-67 come-from-behind victory over UC Santa Cruz on their home court today.
Despite shooting better from the floor in both field goal (39.1) and three-point field goal (40.0) percentages in the first half, Cal Lutheran trailed at the intermission. A phenomenal 13-for-26 showing from the hardwood for a 50.0 shooting percentage and a stellar defensive effort that held UCSC to just 28.0 percent from the floor in the second 20 minutes forced an overtime that was controlled by CLU as well. During the extra five minutes, the Regals combined to go 62.5 percent from the field led by Chelsea Jacoby who netted 10 of the 14 OT points, going 4-for-4 at the free-throw line to propel the Violet and Gold to the victory.
UCSC opened a 5-0 lead to start the contest and led by as many as nine at a trio of different junctures, but the Regals would chip away and pull within one at 23-22 on a Trianna Owen three-pointer after great ball movement from Natalie Stone and Jessica Salottolo with 4:52 to play in the half. Over the final minutes of the period, Cal Lutheran would get within two three more times, but a late foul put UCSC at the line where Leah Parrish made the first of two attempts to give the Banana Slugs a 30-27 advantage at halftime.
In the second stanza, CLU took a momentary 36-35 lead on a Jacobyjumper four minutes into the half following a Salottolo steal, but the visiting Slugs retook the lead on the ensuing possession. Just as quickly as the Regals erased the deficit, the Banana Slugs stormed back with a 10-2 run to regain control and UCSC pushed the gap back to nine at both the 11:18 and 10:51 marks. The latter forced a Cal Lutheran timeout, which was when the momentum shift began to unfold.
Late in the frame the Regals began making noise when Jacoby converted an and-one to close the gap to 56-51 with 3:24 remaining in regulation. A Salottolo three-pointer on the next CLU drive made it a one possession game. Trailing by a pair with under a minute to play, the home bench used a timeout to draw up a game plan and the Regals showcased a solid defensive stand, that included a pair of missed UCSC shots, and ended with Slugs' foul that put Jacoby on the line for two free-throws that she converted with ease to even the score at 58-58 with 11 seconds to play.
A blocked shot from Jacoby and a quick Cal Lutheran timeout gave the Regals one last opportunity with 1.0 seconds in regulation and though it would not fall, the momentum was already on their side.
UCSC won the tip-off in overtime, but quickly turned the ball over and CLU capitalized with a Haley Hodgson layup. A déjà vu moment, gave possession back to the home squad and Jacoby knocked down a jumper for the largest Cal Lutheran lead of the day. The junior was unstoppable in the extra period and Hodgson sunk a key put-back basket off an offensive rebound with 21 seconds to go, ultimately sealing the game.
Jacoby matched a career-best with 28 points as she led all players this afternoon. She added six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal as well. Also reaching double figure scoring for Cal Lutheran were Salottolo with 16 and Hodgson with 12 on 6-for-7 shooting. Stone recorded team-highs of eight rebounds, six assists and five steals, adding a block as a dual, offensive and defensive, threat. Katy Lindor tallied seven boards and Salottolo added four assists and three steals to her line today for CLU.
UC Santa Cruz (9-5) was led by Geena Giovannetti with 20 points while Parrish finished with 18 and Sarah Mackey added 14. All three recorded double-doubles with 11, 14 and 10 rebounds, respectively, and Mackey notched five blocks.
Cal Lutheran (5-4) opens Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play on Saturday, Jan. 3 against La Verne at 2:00 p.m. inside of the Gilbert Arena as the first game of a mixed double header with the men's team that will take the court at 4:00 p.m.
Box Score: CLU 72, UCSC 67 (OT)
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