THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Janna Holley found Naomi Gipson for the game-winning layup and Cal Lutheran women's basketball outlasted Antelope Valley 82-81 on Wednesday night. 

It was the home opener for the Regals and they did not wait for the dramatics. In the first game of the season for Cal Lutheran, there were six tied and 11 lead changes with both teams largest lead being by multiple buckets. 

Five Regals scored in double-digits led by Gipson and Holley with 17 each. Karina McMillan came off the bench to score 16 while Sara Mills added 15 and Grace Godines had 11.

Holley made all six of her shots and record seven assists as she orchestrated the offense. Aliya DiMuro was big around the hoop and pulled down seven rebounds with Gipson next with six and McMillan with five. 

Mills led the team with four three-pointers made and was a force defensively as well. Mills matched Holley for a team-high three steals.  

Cal Lutheran began strong in the first quarter as Godines led the charge for the Regals with a jump shot. She was quickly followed by Gipson, Holley and McMillan. The Regals outscored the Pioneers 18-13 in the first. 

Antelope Valley came back with a vengeance in the second quarter, intent on making the Regals pay. Cal Lutheran began the quarter with a 3-point jump shot by Mills. Godines, Gipson, Izzy Flores, and Annie Winton also put points on the board, but Antelope Valley outscored the Regals 20-10 in the second and had a 33-28 lead at the half. 

The Regals refused to let Antelope Valley open up their lead in the second half as they returned reinvigorated for the third quarter. Gipson took the lead with a layup. DiMuro, Godines, Mills, Holley, and McMillan helped Cal Lutheran score 28 points as Antelope Valley had a 62-56 lead heading to the fourth.

Cal Lutheran was ready for the final quarter. Holley led the Regals' efforts with a layup. She was followed by Gipson, Mills, and McMillan as the quartet made clutch bucket after clutch bucket. Antelope Valley held the lead as the quarter was coming to a close, 80-81, but Cal Lutheran fought until the final seconds. With only seven seconds remaining, Gipson made a final layup, bringing what would've been a close loss to a game-changing victory.

The Regals next game will be in Gilbert Arena against Bethesda University on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 6 p.m.
 
Box Score: CLU 82, UAV 81
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