THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's basketball (8-0, 2-0 SCIAC) outmatched UC Santa Cruz (5-7, 0-0 C2C) at home on Sunday afternoon, winning by a score of 61-42. The Regals took advantage of opportunities off turnovers and from offensive rebounds to break away from the Banana Slugs. Sydney Heyn led Cal Lutheran in scoring with 15 points.

UC Santa Cruz got off to a hot start, putting together an early 13-6 lead midway through the first quarter. A three-pointer from Janna Holley in the Regals' final possession cut the deficit to 16-15, as Cal Lutheran would go into the second period down by one.

Shots started falling for the Regals in the second quarter, with threes from Holley, Heyn, and Kaiya Mack contributing to a 26-20 advantage for Cal Lutheran. A putback from Heyn gave the Regals a 30-26 lead heading into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Cal Lutheran took control with the first seven points of the second half. Heyn connected on another three, and Natalie Villamor converted a pair of layups, pushing Cal Lutheran's lead to double-digits. A layup at the buzzer by Alline Ballard on a dish from Mack put the Regals up 46-34.

Cal Lutheran kept pressuring the Banana Slugs, who could not handle the speed and length that the Regals possessed. After allowing just 16 points in the second half, and 26 in the final three quarters, Cal Lutheran claimed a 61-42 victory.

Heyn led the charge with 15 points (6/13 FG, 3 3FG), adding nine rebounds, a pair of assists, and a pair of steals. Ballard recorded yet another double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Villamor and Holley scored 10 and eight points, respectively. Mack had a great day as a facilitator with a team-high seven assists.

Cal Lutheran will be back in action over the weekend when it hosts Willamette on Friday morning at 11am and then St. Scholastica the following day at 2pm.