WALLA WALLA, Wash. - After a long and eventful trip to the state of Washington on Thursday, the Cal Lutheran women's basketball team tipped off against host Whitman in the Ninth Annual Kim Evanger Raney Memorial Classic opener on Friday evening. The trials and hassle were all worth it as the Regals took down the previously unbeaten Missionaries 74-64.
CLU challenged the 2014 National runner-up with strong defense and accurate shooting, especially in the first half, posting team shooting percentages of 75 (9-for-12) in the first quarter and went into the locker room sitting at 60 percent from the field. Cal Lutheran built as much as a 27-point lead in the third after outscoring WC 23-5. The Regals out rebounded Whitman 39-38 tonight.
A quick 4-0 lead for WC turned into a trio of ties over the first four minutes. Jessica Salottolo knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to knot the teams at 9-9 and give the Violet and Gold their first lead of the night at 12-9 seconds later. The spark prompted a 10-2 run and a lead that the visiting squad would not relinquish for the remainder of the contest. The final bucket of the opening period, a jumper from Taylor Messick, pushed the gap to 11 points at 28-17.
In the second stanza, Whitman chipped away to make it a two-possession game, at 33-27, but three straight steals ended in a pair of Chelsea Jacoby layups and one from Haley Hodgson to rebuild the advantage to a dozen points. Again, the Missionaries made a late run, getting within seven, 41-34, but CLU closed out the quarter with two more free-throws from Jacoby, who went 9-for-10 at the line in the first half alone, to take a 43-34 lead into the locker room.
The differential continued to increase as CLU outscored Whitman 23-5 in the third quarter. An aggressive WC team, chipped away in the final frame, including a 12-0 run late, but with a number of younger players on the court at the end, the Regals hung on for the win.
It was a memorable first collegiate start for Grace Derksen who logged 22 minutes, contributing with two steals, two assists, two points and four rebounds. Jacoby, the lone senior,paced all players with 22 points as one of three CLU players in double figures tonight. Salottolofollowed with 16 and Hodgsonfinished with 10. The trio of Jacoby, Hodgson and Taylor Messick shared a game-high with seven rebounds apiece. Salottolo notched a game-high six assists while Jacoby handed out five. Jacoby added a pair of blocks and a steal and was 12-for-14 at the free-throw line on a night when the Regals combined to go 14-for-18.
Overall, 13 players stepped on the floor and Danielle Roumbos made her collegiate debut. Trianna Owen returned for the first time since the opening weekend and Kianna Gray also returned to the court after being sidelined by injury earlier this year.
Whitman (6-1) got at least two points from all 12 players who stepped on the court with Alysse Ketner leading the way with 12. Hailey McDonald had four steals to pace all players and Casey Poe match the CLU trio with seven rebounds.
Cal Lutheran (2-3) closes out the Kim Evanger Raney Memorial Classic tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 12 at 4:00 p.m. against Whitworth at Whitman.
Box Score: CLU 74, WTM 64
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