SANTA CRUZ, Ca. – UC Santa Cruz women's basketball played well but ultimately fell to Cal Lutheran University 71-60 at KP Arena on Sunday. Despite taking an early lead, the Banana Slugs could not sustain their momentum in the second half.

How It Happened
UCSC came out strong in the first quarter, shooting 40% from the field and taking a 20-16 lead behind a balanced offensive attack. However, Cal Lutheran responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring UCSC 21-9 to take a 37-29 lead into halftime.
 
In the third quarter, the Banana Slugs showed resilience, outscoring Cal Lutheran 16-12 and narrowing the deficit to four points heading into the final period. Ariel Anderson and Emilie Ngo made key contributions during the run, keeping UCSC within striking distance. However, the fourth quarter belonged to the Regals, who pulled away with a 22-point effort to seal the victory.
 
Alyssa Jackson led UCSC with 16 points, including four three-pointers, while Ariel Anderson recorded a near double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds. Emilie Ngo added 13 points and three assists, and Alexa Litchev contributed seven points and six rebounds off the bench.
 
As a team, UCSC shot 35.8% from the field and an efficient 80% from the free-throw line while outrebounding Cal Lutheran 36-35. Despite their efforts, turnovers and second-chance opportunities proved costly, as Cal Lutheran converted key possessions into points.
 
The Banana Slugs will look to regroup and prepare for their next matchup on Thursday, December 7th, when they face UC Merced on the road.