written by Liam Flenniken

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Alline Ballard tallied her third double-double of the season as Cal Lutheran women's basketball took down SUNY New Paltz 70-58 on Saturday afternoon. 

In their first game of the ninth-annual D3hoops.com Classic, three Regals tallied at least 10 points and four tallied at least five rebounds. 

Each of Ballard's double-doubles of the season have come in the team's last five games. 

Ballard shot a season high .750 (6-8) from the field paired with 11 rebounds, an assist, and a block. 

The Regals got off to a hot start, finishing the first quarter up 20-11. They would stay hot, going on a 12-3 run to start the second quarter. New Paltz would end the quarter on a 9-4 stretch to cut Cal Lutheran's lead to 11, going into halftime up 36-25. 

It was the same story coming out of the half, as the Regals would start the third period with a 9-2 run. The remainder of the quarter was a back-and-forth, and the Regals would take an 11-point lead into the fourth. 

The fourth quarter would be the only one in which the Hawks would outscore the Regals, doing so 17-15. It would be futile, however, as the Regals pulled away 70-58. 

When asked about the win, head coach Kelli DiMuro said, "This was one of our most complete victories of the season so far. The team got off to a great start with our defensive pressure and  everyone involved on the offensive side. We are excited for the next game on Monday."

The Regals are back in action at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 against Wittenberg in Las Vegas. 

Key Stats:
Alline Ballard - 15 PTS, 11 REB, 1 AST, 1 BLK
Kaiya Mack - 14 PTS, 4 REB, 3 STL
Janna Holley - 10 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL