THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's basketball (9-1, 2-0 SCIAC) lost its first game of the 2025-26 season on Saturday afternoon, hosting St. Scholastica (8-1, 3-0 MIAC). The Saints defeated the Regals 88-72 behind a huge second quarter. Janna Holley and Kaiya Mack led Cal Lutheran with 18 points each.

St. Scholastica started the game hot, opening an 8-0 lead and eventually a 21-10 lead behind stellar shooting. A pair of threes by Anna Sherman kept the Regals close, and two free throws from Alline Ballard cut the deficit to 24-17 by the end of the first quarter.

The Saints seemingly couldn't miss in the second quarter, going 11/16 from the field and a perfect 5/5 from beyond the arc and 4/4 from the charity stripe. St. Scholastica headed into the break with a 55-30 advantage.

The Regals turned things around in the second half, going on a 10-0 run from the seven- to four-minute mark in the third quarter to cut the Saints' lead to 66-50. However, St. Scholastica responded to take a 22-point lead into the final period.

The Regals kept fighting to stick around, but they eventually fell 88-72 for their first loss after a 9-0 start to the season, which marked the best start in program history since Head Coach Kelli DiMuro was a player back in 1994-95.

Holley had another impressive offensive performance with 19 points (8/13 FG) and four assists. Behind quality shooting from deep, Mack dropped 18 points (6/14 FG, 4/6 3FG, 2/2 FT) and added three steals on the defensive end.

Ballard recorded yet another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, adding four assists. She played aggressively, knocking down 10 of her 16 free-throw attempts. Sherman played a great all-around game, matching her career high with 11 points (4/7 FG, 3/5 3FG), adding four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block.

Cal Lutheran will take some time off for the holidays before returning to action at home on Sunday, December 28 when it hosts Nazareth at 4pm.