REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team overcame a nine-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to beat California Lutheran University 80-73 inside Currier Gym Saturday night.
With the win the Bulldogs improve to 11-4, 6-1 SCIAC, have won four in a row dating back to January 4 and currently sit in second place within the conference standings. The Bulldogs were led by Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA) and Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) who posted performances of 26 points and 20 points, respectively. Jerrier also registered yet another double double as she hauled in 12 rebounds, four blocks, three steals and three assists. This was her fourth game this season with four or more blocks, sixth game with three or more steals, and her 26 points were only two away from tying her career high.
Downs also added seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal to her big night. First-years Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) and Aliyah Anderson (Oceanside, CA) each posted big games as well, combining for 27 points. Zorich also totaled three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and two blocks. Anderson had a career-high four steals, three rebounds, and two assists.
After falling behind early to start the game the U of R got their offense going thanks to Jerrier who converted inside with a pair of lay-ups. Anderson would then add four free throws that tied the game up on another two occasions and Downs would give UR their first lead 11-8 following a triple. On Redlands' next possession Downs would again connect from long range moving the score to 14-11. Jerrier added a layup inside to stretch the lead to five, 16-11 and Zorich would tally a pair of free throws soon after that kept it there. Downs went on a 4-0 spurt herself with a jumper and two free throws that gave the Maroon and Grey their largest lead of the game, which was seven, 22-15.
Jerrier and Starla Murillo (Fremont, CA) kept UR's advantage at six following a pair of jumpers. But this lead went away quickly as CLU would score seven of the next eight points to regain the momentum and take a three-point lead with just over two minutes remaining in the half. This margin would hold as the Regals would go into the break in front, 39-36.
Redlands scored five unanswered in the opening minute of the third quarter to reclaim the lead, 41-39, thanks to a jumper from Zorich and a three ball from Downs, both of which were assisted by Jerrier.
After taking the lead though, the quarter would see six ties occur, the last coming at 54-54, before the Regals would go in front by three with :29 seconds left in the quarter. As time expired in the period Downs was able to draw a foul, which sent her to the line, where she would add another two free throws cutting the deficit to one, 59-58, after 30 minutes.
After a great start to the third quarter, the Bulldogs went cold to begin the fourth allowing the Regals to score eight unanswered, while extending their lead to nine, 67-58 just over two minutes in.
Following a timeout called by Head Coach Rich Murphy, Redlands would come out regrouped adding six straight to pull within a possession, 67-64. Zorich started the run with two free throws, Anderson would steal the ensuing inbounds pass, before adding the layin and Zorich would tack on another two free throws. A couple of layups by CLU stopped the surge keeping it a seven-point game with 5:45 left. But that did not hinder the Bulldogs who stormed back scoring sixteen of the next eighteen points, which included twelve free throws. During this run Jerrier had eight points, Downs added four and Anderson and Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA) would combine for another four.
As a team the Bulldogs overcame a 40% shooting night from the floor by converting on 31-of-36 free throws. They posted 23 more makes from the line to help offset 10 fewer field goal attempts, only five made threes, and a minus 22-point mark from the paint.
The game saw 12 ties and nine lead changes, with Redlands adding 21 points off turnovers, 16 second chance points, and 34 rebounds.
The Bulldogs will head on the road next Wednesday, January 18 at 7:00pm when they take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The winner of this game will move solely into second place in the conference standings.
