Regals Pull Away for Road Victory over Leopards

LA VERNE, Calif. – Leading by seven at halftime, Sofia Cruz and Haley Hodgson each scored 11 points in the second half and Cal Lutheran held La Verne to just four points over the final eight minutes as it pulled away for 63-47 road win over the Leopards Saturday night. The win not only extended Cal Lutheran’s season-long winning-streak to six games but also vaulted the Regals ahead in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings and are now in fouth place with just three league games to go in the regular season.

Cal Lutheran led 30-23 at halftime but La Verne went on a 12-5 run to start the second half and took the lead at 37-35 with 14:46. The Regals would respond by going on a 15-4 run of its own to take the lead for good. Hodgson scored the first seven points of the run before Keeley Anderson made a free-throw and Chelsea Jacoby drained a three. Hodgson and Jacoby would trade baskets to cap the run as CLU led 50-43.

The Regals defense would then stifle the Leopard offensive attack, holding La Verne to just 2 of 11 shooting while forcing six turnovers over the final 7:41 as it built its lead to as large as 16 including six straight points from Cruz in the final two minutes.

In the first half, CLU led La Verne by just one at 19-18 at the 6:51 mark but Anderson, Cruz, Taylor Messick and Janelle Porter all scored baskets to give CLU a seven point lead headed into halftime.

Cruz led all scorers with 17 points to go along with four steals. Jacoby had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Hodgson poured in 13 more. Natalie Stone had eight points and Katy Lindor had six rebounds off the bench.

Lindsey Foster led the Leopards with 14 points off the bench. Emily Meyers had 12 points and seven rebounds and Shannon Irwin rounded out the scorers in double-figures with 10.

Following the loss, La Verne drops to 12-9 overall and 7-5 in the SCIAC.

Cal Lutheran (12-9 overall, 8-5 SCIAC) will look to exact some revenge after an earlier season loss to Redlands when it travels to take on the Bulldogs on Thursday, Feb. 13. Tip-off between CLU and Redlands is set for 7:30 p.m.

Box Score: CLU 63 ULV 47
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