Fueled by senior guard Cassandra Lacey's (Victorville, CA) team-leading 15 points and her 1,000th career points, the Bulldogs topped the visiting Chapman University Panthers, 62-48, on Wednesday night, to remain undefeated in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play.
In first-quarter action, play remained completely balanced and even, not only on both sides of the ball but each Bulldog starter accounted for two points. With two and a half minutes left in the first, junior guard Alyssa Lee (Monterey Park, CA) found first-year forward Julia Balesteri (Pleasanton, CA) on two straight possessions for a pair of layups and a 14-12 score.
Although the Panthers managed four straight points, Lee hit a jumper with three ticks left on the clock and was fouled on the play. She made her subsequent free-throw for a successful and-one play to enter the second with a slight 17-16 lead.
After tying things at 19-apiece, the Bulldogs went on a 10-2 run which was sparked by a pair of mid-range jumpers from Lacey. Sophomore guard Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) ended the spurt with a three-pointer to light up the crowd for a 29-21 advantage.
Chapman attempted the comeback, but three made free-throws from sophomore guard Kim Friedman (Agoura, CA) maintained the Maroon and Gray's lead, heading to halftime up 32-28.
After the break, play continued to be balanced as both teams proceeded to trade buckets. Halfway through the second Redlands sought to pull away once again on a 7-0 run. Sophomore guard Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Torrance, CA), sophomore forward Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA), and Lacey combined for the points to go up 41-35.
The Panthers attempted to stymie Redlands run, but not for long as junior guard Kellis Dack (Vancouver, WA) and Friedman scored key points down the stretch to enter the final period 45-37. First-year guard Alexis Machain (San Diego, CA) assisted both shots.
After another Downs' three-pointer at the 7:48 minute-mark, the Bulldogs held on to an 11-point lead for nearly two and a half minutes. Unfortunately, Chapman's shots continued to fall to pull within six with 3:44 left on the clock.
However, at two minutes, Downs found Lee for a huge basket from beyond the arc to extend their lead. Jerrier then swiped a steal on Chapman's next possession that turned into points on a Lacey layup. That layup goes in the record books as Lacey's 1,002nd career point and a 57-47 lead.
With 29 seconds left in the game, Chapman was forced to foul, but Downs and Jerrier remained calm at the line for five points to ultimately seal the 62-48 Bulldog victory.
Lacey etched her name into the Redlands history books by taking the ninth spot in career points with 1,002 thus far. She also led the team tonight with 15 points and eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs (13-4, 8-0 SCIAC) continue action at home with a conference game against the University of La Verne in Currier Gym on Saturday, January 25, at 7 p.m.
