THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Cal Lutheran women's basketball team closed the regular season in storybook fashion on Saturday, overpowering Occidental College 77-60 inside Gilbert Arena to secure the outright SCIAC regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
With the win, the Regals finish the regular season at 21-4 overall and 13-3 in SCIAC play, claiming sole possession of the conference crown after clinching at least a share earlier in the week. Cal Lutheran will now host a semifinal matchup Thursday at 7 p.m. against the winner of the play-in game between Redlands and Chapman.
Before tipoff, seniors
Maddi Lee,
Deanna Broughton, and
Janna Holley were honored for their contributions to the program. The trio also shared the floor in the starting lineup, setting the tone for a dominant and heartfelt Senior Day performance.
Cal Lu wasted no time establishing control. Holley drilled a three-pointer just 26 seconds into the game, igniting a 22-11 first-quarter advantage as the Purple & Gold held Oxy to just 4-of-15 shooting in the period.
The momentum only grew in the second quarter, as the Regals outscored the Tigers 25-12 to take a commanding 47-23 lead into halftime, knocking down seven first-half three-pointers while completely controlling the glass. Cal Lutheran finished with a 62-43 rebounding edge, including 22 offensive boards that fueled second-chance opportunities.
The lead ballooned to as many as 35 in the second half as the Regals cruised to the 17-point victory without ever surrendering the lead. Occidental shot just 26.8 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from beyond the arc, as Cal Lutheran's defensive pressure disrupted rhythm and limited clean looks.
Kaiya Mack paced the Regals with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists in just 23 minutes of action. Holley added 12 points and four assists, while Broughton recorded nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds in her Senior Day start.
Natalie Villamor chipped in nine points, and the depth of the Regals was on full display as 13 different players scored. CLU's bench contributed 29 points, with the majority of the roster seeing meaningful minutes in a game that featured no ties and no lead changes.
Most importantly, the afternoon celebrated a senior class that helped return the program to the top of the conference. With the outright title secured and postseason play ahead, the Regals now turn their attention to Thursday night's semifinal inside Gilbert Arena as they begin their pursuit of a back-to-back SCIAC Tournament championship.
