THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - A hot start for the Cal Lutheran women's basketball team this afternoon at the Gilbert Arena was all that the Regals would need as a 34-24 first quarter showing propelled the Violet and Gold to a 107-86 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) victory over Whittier.
To start the day, CLU shot an incredible 77.8 percent as a unit, combining to go 14-for-18 in the opening frame with 10 points from Jessica Salottolo and six points and three rebounds from Chelsea Jacoby. In the second stanza, CLU added 20 more points and took a 54-40 advantage into the break. After halftime, the Regals maintained their double figure lead, outscoring the Poets 25-19 in the third period and 28-27 in the final frame. Trianna Owen put the Regals over 100 points late in the fourth.
Haley Hodgson quietly had another big game, producing a double-double, scoring 19 points on an 8-for-9 effort from the field with 12 rebounds, which was a game-high. Jacoby finished an incredible showing with 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists, five blocks and five steals. Salottolo poured in 15 points and Owentallied 14 while Tatiana Dunlap also chipped in with nine. Sofia Cruz led all players with seven assists tonight and added eight points as she flirted with a double-double of her own.
Cal Lutheran shot 57.7 percent from the floor, including a 54.5 effort from behind the arch. The Regals came down with 44 rebounds, 13 at the offensive end of the court, while limiting the Poets to 31.
Whittier (4-10, 1-4 SCIAC) was paced by Priscilla Rorriguez with a game-high 21 points and four assists. Ana Youngblood tallied five rebounds for the Poets and Carly Bueshler earned of the 15 WC steals tonight.
In the contest, the teams were called for 54 combined fouls in a physical game.
The last time that CLU topped the century mark was just over two years ago when the Regals defeated La Verne 110-95 on Jan. 12, 2013. It was the first 100-point showing for head coach Lindsay Goldblatt as she guided the Regals to their 11th consecutive win.
Cal Lutheran (12-3, 6-0) will travel to Occidental on Thursday, Jan. 21 for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off against the Tigers to face the Black and Orange for the second and final time in 2015-16.
Box Score: CLU 107, WC 86
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