Redlands Women's Basketball Heats Up in Hawaii Holiday Classic with 61-51 Win over Wisconsin Lutheran

Redlands Women's Basketball Heats Up in Hawaii Holiday Classic with 61-51 Win over Wisconsin Lutheran

The University of Redlands women's basketball team traveled across the Pacific Ocean to beautiful Honolulu to take part in the 2016 Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic, beginning with Monday's showdown against the Wisconsin Lutheran College Warriors.  The Bulldogs grabbed an early lead and stayed in front to collect a 61-51 win.

After a missed Wisconsin three-pointer, the Bulldogs got off to a quick 8-0 run to start the contest. Senior guard Jade Cheldelin (Portland, OR) converted a crafty jumper off a sweet pass from sophomore guard Mandy Silver (Scotts Valley, CA) to initiate Redlands' scoring spurt. Sophomore forward Reyna Ta'amu (Lakewood, CA) completed the Bulldogs' outburst with a lay-up at the 5:52-mark of the first quarter.

The Bulldogs continued to roll through the first stanza by putting up 17 points to Wisconsin Lutheran's seven. Freshman guard Mariana Ecija (San Diego, CA) and senior guard Selena Iriarte (Wilmington, CA) were among those to score for the Maroon and Gray.

The Redlands offense kept the pressure on high through the second quarter, as the Bulldogs entered halftime with a solid 29-17 lead. Ta'amu led the scoring with a pair of lay-ups during this 10-minute stretch.

During the third stanza, the Maroon and Gray continued to pour it on offensively while slowing down the Warriors with solid defense. With the Bulldogs holding a 39-26 advantage, a Wisconsin Lutheran turnover resulted in a nice offensive outburst for a solid finish to the third frame. Sophomore guard Mandy Silver (Scotts Valley, CA) kicked off the scoring by knocking down a jumper, before junior guard Angela Silver (Scotts Valley, CA) stepped back to sink a shot from beyond the arc off of a quick pass from freshman guard Cassandra Lacey (Victorville, CA). Ecija came off the bench with guns blazing to drain a trey-ball of her own from an M. Silver pass. With 2:31 left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs owned their biggest of the day at 47-26.

The Warriors attempted the comeback but only moved within 10 points by the end of the game, with Redlands taking this one by a final score of 61-51.

Ta'amu came up huge at the line, going 4-for-6, en route to a team-leading 14-point, nine-rebound performance. Cheldelin also had an incredible night by recording a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

As a team, the Bulldogs shot 41.1% to Wisconsin Lutheran's 35.7% showing.

Redlands (3-5) hopes to carry the high from this win to tomorrow's game against Whitman College (WA). Game time is slotted for 7 pm PST.