written by Jalen Kang

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Five Regals scored in double figures as Cal Lutheran women's basketball outlasted Pomona-Pitzer 75-67 in a gritty SCIAC bout on Wednesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Sagehens (10-8, 5-4 SCIAC) led 18-12 with less than a minute left in the first quarter, but a three-point play from Alline Ballard and a tough take inside by Sara Mills made it a one-point game at the quarter's end, 18-17. 

Down by two at the 6:24 mark of the second quarter, back-to-back buckets by Aliya DiMuro sparked a 9-0 Regals (13-5, 5-4 SCIAC) run to give them a 31-24 advantage. The Sagehens responded with an 8-0 run of their own, forcing three Regals turnovers during that stretch. At halftime, the game was knotted up 34-34. 

Coming out of the break, the Sagehens knocked down a pair of threes to put the Regals in a quick six-point hole, but DiMuro and Ballard answered with scores. 

At the 6:46 mark of the third quarter, Kaiya Mack grabbed her second offensive rebound of the game and dished it out to an open Janna Holley for three. Holley's three was the start of a 13-2 Regals run where they shot a perfect 5-5 from the field while holding the Sagehens to just 1-6 shooting. Control of the glass was a huge factor in the Regals' victory, as they outrebounded the Sagehens 45-34 in the contest while scoring 18 second-chance points.

DiMuro scored the first bucket of the fourth quarter, her 13th point of the game, to make it 54-48 Regals. At one point the Sagehens got within two points of the lead, but the Regals executed play after play to prevent a Sagehen comeback. Holley knocked down two timely three-pointers to extend the Regals' lead to six and seven points, respectively.

Up 69-63 with 0:45 remaining, Mack dribbled through the swarming Sagehen defense and converted a tough layup that served as the dagger, extending the lead to eight points. Alexa Greenwood, who grabbed eight rebounds off the bench, made three free throws and Mills made one to close out the game on top. 

THE NUMBERS
- Mack: 17 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST
- DiMuro: 16 PTS, 7 REB
- Ballard: 14 PTS, 11 REB
- Mills: 12 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
- Holley: 11 PTS, 4 AST, 3-5 3PT

FROM HEAD COACH KELLI DIMURO
On the team's execution across all four quarters: "Our defensive execution was really good towards the end. I told them they  had to give everything this game, they did, and I was really proud of them for it. Pomona's a great team, up there with the best of the SCIAC. I thought we contained their guards really well and defended the three well too." 

UP NEXT
The Regals face Occidental in the two teams' first matchup of the season at Gilbert Arena on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m.