PASADENA, Calif. – Cal Lutheran women's basketball showcased its depth Saturday afternoon, using contributions across the lineup to pull away for a 64-51 road win over Caltech inside Braun Gymnasium.
The victory lifts the Regals to 19-3 overall and 11-2 in SCIAC play, keeping CLU firmly in the conference title race, while the Beavers fell to 2-16 (0-12 SCIAC).
Cal Lutheran never trailed in the contest, setting the tone early before gradually building separation. The Regals edged ahead 12-10 after the first quarter, then shot 53.3 percent from the field in the second to carry a 32-28 advantage into halftime.
Natalie Villamor led all scorers with 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, knocking down three triples while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Janna Holley posted a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while also dishing out four assists and recording three steals.
Kaitlyn Brongiel added 12 points and seven rebounds, anchoring the interior with three blocks, while
Kaiya Mack chipped in seven points to round out the balanced effort.
Cal Lutheran seized full control in the third quarter, outscoring Caltech 21-9 to open up a commanding lead. Villamor poured in nine points during the frame, and the Regals' defense held the Beavers to just 23.1 percent shooting as the margin grew to as much as 17 late in the period.
With the outcome in hand, Cal Lutheran continued to rotate its lineup in the fourth quarter, allowing nearly the entire roster to see action.
Deanna Broughton,
Devyn Berry,
Anna Sherman, and
Genessa Ong each contributed off the bench as the Regals closed out the win.
Cal Lutheran finished the afternoon shooting 44.6 percent from the field and held a 41-24 rebounding advantage, while outscoring Caltech 32-14 in the paint.
The Regals return to SCIAC action Wednesday, February 11, traveling to La Verne for a 7 p.m. tip as they continue their push toward the conference postseason.