THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Sophomore Jessi Westering lit up the court Monday night against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, picking up a season-high 19 points. However, the Sagehens got the final say 72-60 over the Cal Lutheran Regals in game one of the three-game home slate inside Gilbert Arena. 

Westering finished 6-11 from the floor, 1-2 from threes and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line. Adding to the point total, sophomore Kailee Yan added nine points for the second consecutive game. 

In true Cal Lutheran fashion, the first quarter was a neck-to-neck battle with three score ties, and while the Sagehens continued to break the score-hold, the Regals continued to respond with quick plays in the paint from Yan and Westering. Though Pomona-Pitzer began to pull away in the final three minutes of the period, big threes from sophomores Jade Jordan and Jozie Tangeman closed out the quarter on an offensive upswing. 

Trailing 24-17 heading into the second quarter, the Regals struggled early, scoring just one point in the first five minutes of the second period. However, an under the basket layup from Yan with 4:46 on the clock got the momentum back in the Regals favor. Tangeman and junior Abi Torres-Drozd followed with consecutive field goals, before junior Natalie Ruhl locked in with a deep three to close out the half. 

Entering the back half of the contest, Westering brought the offense back to life and sparked the Regals highest-scoring quarter of the night. The forward nailed back-to-back field contest field goals three minutes in and only continued to tear the second half, picking up fifteen points. Cal Lutheran picked up 18 points in the third, shooting 38.9% from floor to enter the fourth quarter trailing by 11. 

However, the Regals just could not get past the early deficit, and while deep shots from freshman Cameron Mallory and Westering chomped away at the Sagehens' advantage, Pomona-Pitzer took the game away by a final score of 72-60. 

Monday's results moves the team to 7-9 overall and 4-3 in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Regals make another quick turnaround to Wednesday's contest against the La Verne Leopards. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST inside Gilbert Arena.

Box Score: PP 72, CLU 60
W Basketball Instagram: @regals_basketball
W Basketball Twitter: @CLUwBasketball
CLU Instagram: @clusports
CLU Twitter: @CLUSports
CLU Facebook: CLU Sports
Hashtags: #clusports #goregals #gokingsmen #ownthethrone #theSCIAC #ncaad3 

Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director