THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – In a game that lived up to every bit of its billing, Cal Lutheran women's basketball battled toe-to-toe with conference leader Claremont-Mudd-Scripps before pulling away in overtime for a statement 69-62 victory Wednesday night inside Gilbert Arena.

With the win, the Regals improved to 18-3 overall and 10-2 in SCIAC play, tying the Athenas atop the conference standings and extending their winning streak to six games. CMS, which entered the night 10-1 in league play, dropped to 16-5 (10-2 SCIAC).

The matchup featured relentless defense, physical play, and momentum swings throughout regulation, as neither team led by more than 11 points at any point. CLU held a slim advantage for much of the night, but Claremont refused to go away, forcing overtime on a late three-pointer with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

The Regals responded in the extra period with composure and toughness, outscoring the Athenas 12-5 in overtime and sealing the win at the free-throw line.

Alline Ballard delivered a dominant performance despite playing just 20 minutes, leading all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting while grabbing 13 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the season. The junior was a force on both ends of the floor, anchoring Cal Lutheran's interior defense while providing crucial second-chance opportunities.

Kaiya Mack and Janna Holley each added 13 points, with Mack knocking down key free throws late and Holley converting two in the final 28 seconds of overtime to keep the Athenas at bay. Sydney Heyn chipped in six points but made her impact felt across the stat sheet, finishing with eight rebounds, an assist, and steady defense in 34 minutes.

Cal Lu set the tone early, opening the game on a 16-9 first-quarter run behind Ballard's work in the paint. After CMS closed the gap before halftime, the Regals came out strong in the third quarter, shooting 44.4 percent from the field and pushing the lead to as many as 11 following a fast-break three from Mack.

The Athenas clawed back in the fourth, capitalizing on trips to the free-throw line and timely baskets to erase the deficit and eventually knot the score at 57-57 late in regulation.

Overtime, however, belonged to the Purple & Gold.

After Heyn opened the period with a pair of free throws, Mack dropped in four more points to give Cal Lutheran breathing room. The Regals closed the door by going 10-of-12 from the foul line in overtime, while holding CMS to just one made field goal in the extra five minutes.

CLU finished the night with a 50-39 rebounding advantage and scored 36 points in the paint, overcoming a physical CMS defense that forced 27 turnovers. The Regals' defense rose to the occasion when it mattered most, holding the Athenas to 29.4 percent shooting for the game and just 1-of-13 in overtime.

With the win, Cal Lutheran now sits tied atop the SCIAC standings with CMS, setting the stage for a thrilling finish to the regular season as the Regals continue their push for a conference title. That push continues on the road Saturday, February 7, as CLU heads to Caltech for a 4 p.m. tip.