Second Half Run Propels CLU Past Pirates

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Four Regals went in double-figures as Cal Lutheran used a 23-3 run to start the second half to knock off previously unbeaten Whitworth 75-60 Monday night in Gilbert Arena.

Leading the run to start the second half was Jazymne Porter, who scored 11 of her season-high 17 points in a nine-minute span. Porter scored nine-straight points for CLU as they went up 51-39. The junior guard first drove the basket and laid it in with her left hand despite being fouled. She would connect on the and-one free throw and would come down and hit a wide-open three-point on the Regals next possession. Porter would push the Regals lead to 11 on the following possession when Erica Whitley came up with a steal and passed it off to a driving Porter. Porter converted the lay-up despite being fouled and finished off the three-point play by sinking the free-throw.

Despite Porters herorics, Whitworth would hang around, reducing the lead to just eight after a three-pointer by Emily Travis made it 60-52 with a little over six minutes to play.

The teams would go scoreless for the next two minutes before a three-pointer from the top of the key by Keeley Anderson finally iced the game away for the Regals.

Cal Lutheran actually trailed at the half. Despite leading by as much as nine midway through the first half, Whitworth caught fire from the three-point range in the final minutes of the first half. The Pirates got two consecutive three pointers from Katara Belton-Sharp and KC McConnell to narrow the Regal lead to 29-28.

Alex Nelson would put CLU back up by three after a nice drive the basket.

Whitworth would come down the court and McConnell hit another jumper bringing the score to 31-30.

Rachel Heagy would get a nice look inside on Cal Lutheran’s following possession but couldn’t convert, giving the Pirates the final possession of the half. After holding the ball for 20 seconds, Travis hit a three with 11 seconds left and gave the Pirates the first half lead at 33-31.

Cal Lutheran conceded a three-pointer to the Pirates to start the second half as they trailed 36-31 before going on their 23-3 run over the next nine minutes.

Porter led CLU with 17 points while Whitley and Heagy each had 15. Alex Nelson rounded out the scorers in double-figures for CLU, finishing with 14 points.

Whitworth was led by KC McConnell, who finished with 20 points. Travis ended with 15 and Kendra Lahue finished with 10.

With the win Cal Lutheran improves to 3-1 while Whitworth drops their first game of their season and falls to 4-1.

Cal Lutheran will be back in action next this Friday, November 30, when they take on Westmont at 7:30 p.m. in Gilbert Arena.

Box Score: CLU 75 Whitworth 60