written by Jalen Kang

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Alline Ballard had 25 points and 17 rebounds, four other Regals broke double-figure scoring, and Cal Lutheran women's basketball won its fifth-straight game, handling Chapman 86-72 on Saturday evening. 

Ballard feasted in her third-straight game with a double-double, securing it at just the 4:24 mark of the second quarter. The Regals (8-3, 1-2 SCIAC) picked up their first conference win and own the longest active win streak among all SCIAC teams. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 
Ballard got off to a fast start, helping the Regals into the driver's seat from the opening tip. She scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds in just the first quarter, leading the Regals to a 23-17 lead at the end of the frame. 

The Panthers (5-7, 2-1 SCIAC) tied the game up at 25-25 at the 7:11 mark of the second, but the purple and gold caught fire from that point on. The Regals went on a 19-4 run over the remainder of the quarter, going 9-16 from the field and forcing five Panther turnovers during that stretch. At halftime, the Regals led comfortably 44-29. 

The Regals continued to control both ends of the floor in the third quarter as they shot 6-11 while holding the Panthers to 5-15 from the field. From 8:41 to 2:21, they embarked on another monster 18-4 run, extending their lead to a game-high 25 points at 65-40.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers got within 11 points but the Regals cruised to the final horn, picking up their first conference win of the season. 

THE NUMBERS 
- Ballard: 25 PTS, 17 REB (Averaging 15.8 PPG and 13.8 RPG in last 5 games)
- Aliya DiMuro: 14 PTS, 5 REB, 6-8 FG
- Janna Holley: 13 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST
- Kaiya Mack: 13 PTS, 3 REB
- Sara Mills: 11 PTS, 3 REB

FROM HEAD COACH KELLI DIMURO
"Our rebounding and playing together as a team defensively helped push us over the edge tonight and we did a great job closing out at the end," said DiMuro. "We're getting better and better every game." 

UP NEXT
The Regals face Bethesda in their final non-conference game of the season at Gilbert Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m.