THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) season for the Cal Lutheran women's basketball team started on a high note during a low-scoring 60-45 victory this evening over Occidental at the Gilbert Arena.
On a cold shooting night, the Violet and Gold were able to open an 18-17 lead en route to a 31-26 halftime advantage behind strong defense. A close second half saw the Regals ahead by one, 36-35, after three quarters and the game finished with a CLU surge to steal the win. Both teams shot 32 percent from the floor and Occidental out rebounded Cal Lutheran 46-43, but the Regals forced 28 Tigers' turnovers.
The Regals erased an early deficit and after a Grace Derksen reverse layup pulled CLU within one, Tatiana Dunlap came off the bench for the next four points and the first Violet and Gold lead of the evening at 16-13. Occidental scored with .4 seconds to play in the first, but a foul put Dru Ishibashi at the line with an opportunity to tie things at the end of the first frame. An unsuccessful attempt gave CLU a slim 18-17 lead at the first break. Cal Lutheran opened its gap to seven points at the 5:56 mark of the second and took a five-point cushion into the locker rooms.
The second stanza saw the shooting struggles continue for both sides. The Tigers slowly chipped away, scoring the first six points of the half to tie things at 31-31 more than five minutes into the third period. Oxy added four more points prompting a CLU timeout. The second possession out of the break featured a Sofia Cruz steal and and-one to pull the Regals back within one at 35-34. Derksen converted another layup on an assist from Chelsea Jacoby on the ensuing possession, following a turnover, to regain the lead at 36-35. During the final 10 minutes, the Violet and Gold turned to Dunlap for a spark. She knocked down a three-pointer followed by a steal and layup and continued to contribute to the final buzzer.
Cal Lutheran looked to Dunlap for 13 points, on a 5-for-6 night from the field, and eight rebounds while both Cruz and Jessica Salottolo tallied 11 points in the win. Messick flirted with a double-double by chipping in with seven points and seven rebounds, also adding a block. Dunlap and Trianna Owen earned three steals apiece and Jacoby was a defensive menace with four blocks and five rebounds while also handing out a game-high four assists.
Derksen, Dunlap, Liana Minassian and Danielle Roumbos each made her SCIAC debut tonight.
Occidental (4-5, 0-1 SCIAC) was led by a game-high 16 points from Erin Matsumoto with Ciara Byrne adding 10. Mackenzie Bretz had seven rebounds for the Black and Orange.
Cal Lutheran (4-3, 1-0) is back at the Gilbert Arena on Monday, Dec. 21 for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off against Pacific (Ore.).
Box Score: CLU 60, OXY 45
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