Loggers Hand #23 Regals First Loss, 56-48

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Puget Sound Loggers did something that no other squad had done this season, defeating the 23rd-ranked Cal Lutheran Regals, 56-48, in a NCAA Division III women's basketball game on Sunday at Gilbert Arena in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

CLU's Brianna Parker hit a jumper a minute in the game to give the Regals a lead by senior Natasha Ludwig (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea) hit a layup on the next trip down the floor and a jumper by Claire Ely (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) gave the Loggers the lead as Puget Sound wouldn't trail the rest of the way. 

CalLu tied the game again with 12:46 left to play in the first half but the Loggers used a 12-2 run to go ahead by 10 points with 8:05 left on the clock.  Cal Lutheran battled to chip the Logger lead back into single digits but Puget Sound still held a 29-22 lead heading into the halftime break.

In the second half, the Regals continued to chip away at the Logger lead, pulling within one point at 38-37 with 13:45 left in the game.  A 7-0 run put the Loggers back up by eight points but CLU didn't give up yet, pulling back within two points with 3:32 left to play but the Logger defense held tough as Puget Sound ended the game on an 8-2 run that gave Puget Sound the 56-48 victory.

The Loggers were led by Ely, who scored 19 points on her way to tournament MVP honors.  Sophomore Jocelyn Riordan (Lake Forest Park, Wash./Shorecrest) added 13 points in the win while Lindsay Layland (Homer, Alaska) scored four and collected seven rebounds as she was named to the all-tournament team.  Puget Sound won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding CalLu, 40-32.

Cal Lutheran was led by 12 points off the bench from Erica Whitley.  The host Regals struggled from the free-throw line, making just six-of-11 attempts for 54.5%, compared with 86.4% for the Loggers.

Puget Sound will take a break for the holidays before returning to the hardwood on Dec. 29 when they play host to Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  Tip-off with the Blugolds is set for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.