LA VERNE, Calif. — Cal Lutheran's Kiana Gray and Grace Derksen scored 19 and 17 points, respectively, as the Regals mounted a big second half comeback to defeat the La Verne Leopards, 77-69, Saturday night inside Sports Pavilion.
The Regals won their third straight game to improve to 10-7 overall and 5-3 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play. Cal Lutheran swept La Verne on the year as they also defeated them Dec. 2, 95-81.
Gray's 19 points were a career-high. Her previous high was 16. She scored her 19 by shooting 54.5-Percent from the field, including 3-for-3 from three-point range. She recorded her second career double-double as she pulled down 13 boards. She added three steals and three blocks.
Derksen tallied her career-high in points as she scored 17. She was all over the court and filled up her stat line. She added a team game-high six assists, three rebounds, three steals and one blocks.
Kayla Watterson recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She has 10-plus rebounds in 12 games.
Jessi Westering came off the bench and scored 12 points. Rylie Wada and Kailee Yan added eight points apiece.
The Leopards jumped all over the Regals and had a 23-9 lead after the first quarter. The teams went back and forth in scoring in the second as La Verne had a 37-25 lead at the half.
The Regals picked up the pace in the second half. CLU opened the second half on a 6-0 run and cut the lead to five points at 37-32. The Regals would eventually tie the game up at 43, but the Leopards bounced back and led 50-45 going into the fourth.
Cal Lutheran opened the fourth quarter with another run, this one being 12-0, and took a commanding 57-50 lead. The Regals never looked back as they went on to win 77-69. Cal Lutheran outscored La Verne 32-19 in the fourth quarter as the Regals completed the comeback.
Up next for Cal Lutheran is Occidental. The Regals travel to Los Angeles, Calif., and take on the Tigers Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Box Score: CLU 77, ULV 69
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
