ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – For the second time this season, California Lutheran University junior Alline Ballard has been named SCIAC Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week, this time earning the defensive honor after anchoring the Regals during a pair of key conference victories.

Ballard powered CLU to a 2-0 week by controlling the paint and the glass, recording back-to-back double-doubles while serving as the Regals' primary interior presence. She opened the week with 17 points and 15 rebounds against Chapman, adding five assists and converting all nine free-throw attempts. Ballard followed with 18 points and 13 rebounds at Pomona-Pitzer, again flawless at the stripe while helping shut down the Sagehens inside.

For the week, Ballard averaged 14.0 rebounds and 17.5 points per game, totaling 28 rebounds while shooting a perfect 13-for-13 from the free-throw line. Her defensive presence helped limit both Chapman and Pomona-Pitzer to under 40 percent shooting, allowing CLU to improve to 7-2 in SCIAC action.

On the season, Ballard is one of just two players in the conference averaging a double-double and currently leads the SCIAC in both rebounding (11.9 rpg) and scoring (16.8 ppg).

The Regals now sit at 15-3 overall and will travel to Whittier on Wednesday, January 28, looking to complete the season sweep of the Poets.