THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The CLU women's basketball team ended the 2010 calendar year with a 66-61 victory over nationally ranked Calvin (MI) to conclude the Posada Royale Best Western Holiday Classic. Wesleyan (CT) defeated UC Santa Cruz 52-49 in Friday's opener.
Box Score: CLU 66, CC 61 - F
Box Score: WES 52, UCSC 49 - F
All-Classic Team
Erica Whitley (Cal Lutheran) Co-MVP
Starla Wright (Cal Lutheran) Co-MVP
Carissa Verkaik (Calvin)
Ally Wolffis (Calvin)
Erin Gold (Wesleyan)
Lydia Andrews (UC Santa Cruz)
Both of Friday's contests were either tied or within a single possession with under three minutes remaining in regulation. Tied 58-58 Cal Lutheran scored eight of the game's final 11 points to seal the victory. Wesleyan trailed 49-48 with 2:55 left before scoring the final four points including the go-ahead lay-up from Kendra Harris.
Cal Lutheran 66, Calvin 61 - F
Both teams headed into Friday on length win streaks with Cal Lutheran boasting a four-gamer and Calvin at six following a 59-36 victory over Wesleyan inside Gilbert Arena on Thursday.
The Regals led 31-24 at halftime after holding the Knights without a three-pointer over the opening 20 minutes misfiring on all 13 attempts. Cal Lutheran received a huge lift from a pair of bench players to hold a seven point cushion at intermission.
Rachel Heagy went 4-for-4 from the floor and grabbed four rebounds in nine first half minutes. The sophomore finished with a career-best nine points on the night.
Erica Whitley played a huge role in Friday's outcome providing 13 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and six assists. The second-year player came up with several key plays late in the game to preserve a Regals victory.
Outside of Carissa Verkaik's first half effort of 10 points and nine rebounds, the Regals defense silenced the Knights offense.
Calvin made an early second half charge featuring an 11-2 scoring run that put the Knights ahead 37-33, their largest lead of the game with 16:11 remaining. However Cal Lutheran countered with nine unanswered points as Whitley, Starla Wright and Chesley Hastigan each contributed to the spurt.
The Knights hung around and after Kelsey Irwin knocked down one of her three second half triples the game was all square with 3:42 remaining. Whitley countered with her only three-ball of the night to give CLU a lead it would hold to the end.
Wright finished with 14 points and eight rebounds and was named Co-Most Valuable Player along with teammate Erica Whitley.
Verkaik was held to eight points and two boards in the second half and finished with an 18-point, 11 rebound double-double. Teammate Ally Wolffis scored 17 points in 17 minutes shooting 7-for-10 from the floor. Both were named to the all-classic team.
Wesleyan 52, UC Santa Cruz 49 - F
Following a sluggish offensive first half in which the both teams combined to score 33 points on 20 percent shooting, it was a second half scoring battle with each squad featuring a spearheaded attack.
UCSC's Lydia Andrews had been shut out of the scoring column in Thursday's game and the first half of Friday's contest, but the senior provided 15 second half points. Trailing by 12 early in the second period she scored nine straight points for the Banana Slugs putting the team in position for a comeback attempt.
The Cardinals countered with Erin Gold who scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half. Tied 43-43 with 5:22 left she scored five unanswered points to put Wesleyan out ahead. UCSC regained the lead after Danielle Mofsowitz one of her game-high four triples with under three minutes remaining.
WU's Kendra Davis cast the deciding blow giving the Cardinals a 50-49 lead with 1:54 left as Mofsowitz's go-ahead three was the final points for the Banana Slugs.
Cal Lutheran (6-5) will play its conference opener on the road Saturday, Jan. 8 against Redlands.