Box Score

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Elmhurst College women's basketball team recorded its first win of the season by edging California Lutheran University 72-71.

Elmhurst (1-3) held off a late charge from California Lutheran (1-2) to score a one-point victory in the back-and-forth contest that featured 16 lead changes and seven ties.

The Regals used a 12-4 late in the opening half to take a 34-27 lead with just 2:23 left on the clock. Cal. Lutheran led 36-32 at halftime. Elmhurst quickly overtook the Regals early in the second half and the two teams proceeded to trade buckets as the lead exchanged hands 11 times in the second half. 

With the game knotted at 55, Elmhurst rattled off six straight points to build a 61-55 lead. The Bluejays built an eight-point lead with just over five minutes left on the clock before the Regals surged back. Cal. Lutheran used an 11-3 run over a three minute span to even the score at 69-69 with two minutes left. 

Megan Ney hit a free throw to put the Bluejays on top 70-69. After a Regals' miss, Meghan Merklein hit a lay-up to put the Bluejays up 72-69 with a minute to play. The Regals used three offensive rebounds on their next possession to pull to within a point on Erica Whitley's lay-up with 32 seconds left on the clock. The Regals had a chance to win the game after the Bluejays missed a pair of free throws. Meaghan Gooenough's jumper missed the mark allowing the Bluejays to escape with the 72-71 victory.

Elmhurst outshot Cal. Lutheran 41.3 percent to 40.6 percent. The Bluejays hit 26-of-63 shots from the field, while the Regals converted 28-of-69 attempts. 

Ney narrowly missed a double-double for the Bluejays, pouring in a team-leading 19 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Ney finished 6-of-8 from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Kelsey Monroe added 16 points while shooting 6-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. She added a game-high five assists for the Bluejays. Devin Vaughn added a season-high 13 points and for assists for the Bluejays. Merklein finished with seven points for Elmhurst.

Starla Wright totaled 22 points and 13 rebounds to pace the Regals in the loss. Erica Whitley also recorded a double, finishing with 15 points and 10 boards. Donielle Griggs came off the bench to score 10 points. 

The Bluejays will face the University of La Verne on Saturday, November 27.