The University of Redlands women's basketball team welcomed Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) foe Cal Lutheran University to Currier Gym for a Saturday evening matchup. Fueled by double figures by three different starters and a total of 50 rebounds, the Bulldogs put together a dominating 71-54 win.
The Maroon and Gray were off to the races to open the game on a 7-2 run in the first three minutes of action. First-year guard Angelina Roque (San Diego, CA) accounted for three of the points with a jumper and two free throws. Although Cal Lutheran narrowed the lead slightly, the Bulldogs got a burst of energy, this time going on an 8-2 run to extend their lead to ten. First-year guard Alexis Machain (San Deigo, CA) ended the span with a jumper with only four ticks left on the clock to make it 17-7 to end the first period.
The Bulldogs continued the build their lead with timely buckets, defensive boards, and an impressive block from senior guard Cassandra Lacey (Victorville, CA). The final minutes of the quarter were all Roque as she contributed eight of Redlands' 20 second-period points in just five minutes to enter halftime with a 37-22 lead.
Junior guard Kellis Dack (Vancouver, WA) opened the third with a jumper off an assist from Lacey. Minutes later, Dack hauled in an offensive board and was fouled, making both of her subsequent free throws to make it 41-26. On Redlands' very next play, Lacey scored the layup and the foul, successfully completing the three-point play.
With 4:18 left to go in the third, senior guard Alyssa Lee (Monterey Park, CA) and junior guard Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) hit back-to-back three-pointers to extend Redlands' lead to 20 at 54-34.
With seconds winding down in the third, Lacey hit a buzzer-beater to enter the fourth with the Maroon and Gray's largest lead of the night at 60-38.
Although the Regals outscored Redlands in the fourth, two trey-balls from Downs and six rebounds from Lacey secured the dominating, 71-54, win over Cal Lutheran.
The Bulldogs shot 48.3% from the field and 78.6% from the charity stripe. Redlands also out-rebounded the Regals, 50-35. Lacey notched a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. Roque and Downs scored in double figures with 16 points and 13 points respectively. Dack also hauled in 12 boards.
The Maroon and Gray (9-4, 4-0 SCIAC) head to Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, a week from today, on Saturday, January 11 for a SCIAC game at 4 p.m.