THOUSAND OAKS, CA - The TCNJ women's basketball team concluded its 2024 schedule with a matchup against Cal Lutheran Friday afternoon, falling 77-45 to the Regals. The host's size proved too much for the Lions, with Cal Lutheran outscoring TCNJ 40-10 in the paint to hand the Lions their first loss since November 23.
 
Amanda Baylock eclipsed double figures in scoring for the second straight game, leading TCNJ with 11 points while Myah Hourigan-Hutton shared the team lead in rebounds (5) and assists (3) with Katie Fricker and Grace Kowalski respectively. Points were few and far between for the Lions who were held to just 29% shooting from the field and 28% from 3-point land, with the Regals also holding a commanding 47-23 advantage on the glass.
 
TCNJ (8-3, 5-0 NJAC) found itself down early on in Friday's contest, with the Lions' first made basket of the game – a three from Nina Branchizio – coming with just three minutes left in the quarter. Another triple from Ariana McCleod cut the lead to five at 13-8 with 1:19 to go, but the Regals would score the final three points of the frame to take an eight-point lead into the first break.
 
The Lions momentarily shot themselves back into the game in the second quarter, using a 9-0 run that featured a pair of triples from Baylock and another from Kowalski to make it a 23-19 game halfway into the frame. Katie Fricker would score TCNJ's next five points to keep things close, but it was Cal Lutheran using another strong finish to the quarter – this time going on a 6-0 run over the final 2:13 – to send the Lions into halftime down 10.
 
Friday's contest was put out of reach in a third quarter in which TCNJ shot just 30% and was outscored 22-7 – including a 15-0 run midway through the stanza – to fall behind 25 heading into the fourth. Another 9-0 run in Friday's final quarter pushed Cal Lutheran's lead to its largest of the afternoon at 33 with 3:39 to go before scores from Fricker and Tireya Wyatt resulted in the 77-45 defeat.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Friday's game marked the first time the Lions were held under 30% shooting this season.
• TCNJ was also held to a season-low 23 rebounds in the loss, giving up 47 – including 20 offensive boards – to the Regals.
• None of the Lions' five starters reached double figures for the first time this season. McCleod led all starters with eight, followed by seven apiece from Kowalski and Fricker.
• Kowalski finished with a team-high two steals, the sophomore's third straight game with multiple thefts.

UP NEXT

• TCNJ will get a break for the holidays before returning to Packer Hall Thursday, Jan. 2 for a non-conference matchup against Swarthmore. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.