Feb 05, 2011
LA VERNE, Calif. – Down by five with less than a minute remaining in the game, a three-point shot made by Cal Lutheran's Chelsey Hastigan chopped La Verne's lead to a meager two points. Unfortunately for CLU, the host Leopards were able to protect what slim lead they possessed for the final 56 seconds as the Regals were narrowly defeated by a score of 58-55 Saturday evening.
Box Score: CLU 55, ULV 58 - F
Finishing with 16 points and 10 rebounds, Regal forward Brianna Parker earned her fourth double-double of the season, finishing only three points shy of her season-high 19 points scored against Lake Forest last December.
In a tightly-contested match-up that saw no team possess a lead of more than five points against their opponent, Cal Lutheran just could not regain the lead after La Verne broke a 44-44 tie with over six and a half minutes remaining in the game.
Both teams would trade baskets during those final minutes of the second half, punctuated by Hastigan's three-point basket that chopped La Verne's advantage by more than half during the final minute of the game.
Forced to foul to stop the clock and regain possession, the Leopards were able to capitalize on their opportunities at the foul line to finish with a three-point victory, and a split of their regular season games against the Regals.
With both team's shooting nearly identical percentages from the field, Cal Lutheran was able to force La Verne to commit 14 turnovers, negating the Leopard's nine baskets made from behind the three-point arc.
But the three free-throw difference between Cal Lutheran and La Verne would end up becoming the decisive factor of the game as Cal Lutheran now looks to split their two-game SCIAC road trip when they travel to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps this Thursday.
Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.