In a tightly contested matchup, the Bulldog women's basketball team met the Cal Lutheran University Regals for the second time this season in Currier Gym on Saturday night. Although the Maroon and Gray outscored the Regals in the second and third quarters, the CLU offense got hot late in the fourth to eventually hand Redlands a tough, 47-55 loss.
Four made free-throws and a key three-pointer from junior guard Jordan Smith (Tustin, CA) highlighted the opening 10 minutes, with the Bulldogs down, 9-14, headed to the second.
Despite sophomore guard Marisa Urbano-Sedlund (San Diego, CA) opening the next quarter with an impressive step-back from beyond the arc, the Regals subsequently went on a run that resulted in their biggest of the night with 5:55 left until the half.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs quickly regrouped and went on a 9-0 run that was bookended with buckets from Urbano-Sedlund. At 3:48, Urbano-Sedlund nailed her second three-pointer of the night. First-year forward Starla Murillo (Fremont, CA) and junior guard Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) then knocked down four points from the charity stripe to cut the deficit to three, 21-24. Urbano-Sedlund concluded the spurt with an agile jumper to pull within one at 23-24 with 1:08 left in the second.
The teams stayed neck-and-neck through the third as well. This time, Downs, senior forward Kellis Dack (Vancouver, WA), and first-year guard Abria Laue (Camarillo, CA) accounted for Redlands' points. Nearing the end of the third, Dack swiped a steal to put Redlands back on offense. Urbano-Sedlund was fouled on the next possession and sank both of her free-throws for a 34-33 Bulldog lead at the 1:46-mark in the third. Murillo added another layup in the ensuing minute for the teams to enter the fourth all tied up at 36-apiece.
Fast-forward to 6:44 in the fourth, when junior guard Angelina Roque (San Diego, CA) made her presence known by swiping a steal and racing it back to the other end of the court. She made her fastbreak layup and was fouled on the play. She converted her following free-throw to complete a successful three-point play.
Downs and Roque combined for Redlands' next four points to give the Bulldogs their largest lead at 45-40 with 4:55 left in the game.
However, momentum shifted in favor of the visiting team, which eventually led to a 47-55, Bulldog loss.
Urbano-Sedlund and Downs chipped in 12 points each, while Urbano-Sedlund added four assists. Downs and Dack led the charge with a combined 12 rebounds. Murillo also impressed with six rebounds and four assists.
Redlands (1-3) looks to avenge this loss on the road when it takes on the Regals on Saturday, April 10, at 2 p.m. in Thousand Oaks.
