SANTA CRUZ, CA -- Sarah Mackey scored 21 points from just about everywhere on the court to lead the Slugs to a 73-48 win over a stubborn Cal Lutheran Regal team. 

For the second consecutive game, UC Santa Cruz got off to a sluggish start. Mackey opened the scoring by hitting a 15 foot jumper.  Leah Parrish followed with the first of the Slugs thirteen 3 pointers.  The Slugs, however led only 5-2 at the 5 minute mark. The Slugs temporarily grabbed  the momentum when Parrish hit another jumper and Erin Joo and Jean Dulay hit free throws. The Regals responded with six straight points but a long range bomb by Tyler Stewart gave the Slugs a slim 13-12 lead with 9 minutes to go. The Slugs dug down deep. Stewart drained another three, Mackey scored five straight points and Geena Giovannetti hit the first of three 3-pointers. The Slugs lead grew to 26-16. The Slug defense dominated the next 3 minutes. Joo, Dulay and Sara Fitzgerald turned up the heat. An 11-3 run gave UC Santa Cruz a 37-19 lead at the break.

The second half started with a quick 4 point run by the Regals.  The game seemed on the verge of slipping away from the Slugs but three point shots by Mackey and Giovannetti turned back the Regal charge. The Regals fought back but when Fitzgerald dished out one of six assists on the night to Parrish the Slugs led 47-27 with 14 minutes to go. Over the next several minutes, the Regals cut into the Slug lead.  Each time a different UC Santa Cruz player responded. Trina Torres hit one three to stop a run. Joo and Giovannetti hit threes to stop another run. The Slugs were just too deep for the Regals. When the Regals hit a cold spell at the five minute mark, Santa Cruz finally put the Regals away. Torres hit the last of the Slugs threes and Dulay nailed down the win with six consecutive free throws.

Next weekend the Slugs travel to Oregon to face Williamette and Pacific for their first road games of the season.