THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team saw their winning streak come to an end at seven games Saturday evening, as they would fall on a buzzer-beater to California Lutheran University 64-61.
The Bulldogs who were already at a disadvantage from the opening tip, facing traffic arriving to the game, forcing them to have only thirty minutes of warm-up drop to 14-5, 9-2 SCIAC. They also drop into a tie with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps for 2nd within the conference standings.
The Maroon and Grey looked sharp from the very start, leading by seven after the first quarter. But over the final three periods they were outscored each quarter as CLU would come up with a last second three-pointer to win the game handing UR their second SCIAC loss on the season.
Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA) had a record night posting another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. She also added four assists and three blocks. Her three blocks breaks the University of Redlands career record of 128 held by Courtney Carroll (2009-12) as she now has 130. The three blocks also give her 47 on the season, tying her with Mackenzie Smith (2010-11), for the most single-season blocks. She also currently sits eighth in single-season total rebounds (244), fifth in defensive rebounds (167), and ninth in offensive rebounds (77).
Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) also had a big night as she continues to move up in the University of Redlands record books. She finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. She now sits only 42 points away from tying the program career scoring record of 1,576 points held by Leslie Ferguson (1992-95). Downs is also a game away from tying Ali Bueno (2007-10) for the most games played at 104. She already holds the record for starts with 102.
Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA) added 14 points, six assists, six rebounds, and a career high two blocks. Her six assists move her into seventh place all-time in career assists with 252. She is also tied for sixth in career starts with 79. Julia Balestreri (Pleasanton, CA) played 12 minutes off the bench finishing with 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Bulldogs trailed early, 4-3, before taking control, jumping in front by five, 11-6, with 4:14 on the clock. Just over a minute later the Regals got within one, 11-10, but Pagkalinawan would hit a three off a Downs assist to extend the advantage.
Downs and Carly Hicks (Portland, OR) scored the final seven Bulldog points of the quarter as the U of R held a 21-14 lead after one.
Four of the first five points of the second quarter were scored by Leila Hosn (Seattle, WA) and Pagkalinawan giving Redlands their largest lead of the game at 10, 25-15. The Bulldogs were able to maintain their double-digit advantage by responding to Regal baskets with their own as they continued to lead by double digits, 31-21, following a pair of Balestreri free throws with 5:16 left in the half.
Redlands' offense managed only two points in the final five minutes, but their defense held CLU to only six as they took a six-point lead, 33-27, into the intermission.
Jerrier got involved in the offense with an early jumper off a Pagkalinawan assist :13 seconds into the third quarter. Then at the 5:14 mark the Bulldogs allowed a layup as they trailed for the first time since it was 4-3 in the first three minutes of the game. Downs would tie and reclaim the lead on two made free throws under the five-minute mark in the third.
Trailing by five with less than a minute to play in the quarter, Jerrier made a free throw and Balestreri followed with a layup off an offensive rebound with :10 seconds left to get the Bulldogs within two, 48-46.
Balestreri extended her run to eight down to the 5:30 mark of the fourth as she helped the Bulldogs take the lead, 52-50. A few minutes later Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) would make a pair of free throws to give Redlands a three-point lead, 58-55.
The Regals though would rally storming back to go back in front, 61-59, following a 6-2 run as the Bulldogs took a timeout with :16 seconds left and possession. Out of the breather, Pagkalinawan found Jerrier for the game-tying basket with only :07 left. But the next time down the floor the Regals would find the game-winner knocking down a three-pointer as time expired sending them to the win.
The Bulldogs had a tough night shooting the ball finishing 28.2% from the field, 26.7% from behind the arc and 68% from the free-throw line. They outrebounded the Regals 50-43, added 11 points off turnovers and had 25-second chance points. The difference came in the paint where CLU outscored UR 40-14.
Redlands returns home for a game with Caltech this Wednesday, February 1 beginning at 7:00 p.m. inside Currier Gym.