COLLEGE BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Cal Lutheran Win Streak Ends at 5

Kim Eproson and the Cal State Los Angeles women’s basketball team broke Cal Lutheran’s school-record five-game winning streak with a convincing 80-66 victory Friday night at Cal Lutheran.

Eproson came off the bench to pour in a game-high 25 points, 23 in the second half, to help Cal State L. A. (6-7) break a six-game losing streak.

“(Eproson) was just amazing,” Cal Lutheran Coach Norm Chung said.

“We couldn’t stop her. We didn’t let her get any shots simply standing stationary. We made her work for her shots. She just didn’t miss.”

Not exactly, but pretty close.

Eproson made 10 of 18 field-goal attempts, mostly on long-distance bombs, and she sank five of six free throws.

The Regals (9-3) led, 46-45, with 12 minutes, 46 seconds to play before Eproson went to work.

The 5-foot-7 junior guard scored the Eagles’ next 10 points in a 4:26 span, all on outside shooting to give Cal State L. A. a 55-50 advantage.

Cal Lutheran pulled to within a point, 61-60, with 4:16 to play when Joy Fuller made a layup. But Cal State L. A. went on a 14-1 blitz with Eproson scoring 10 of the 14 to seal the win.

Lori Thompson scored 16 points and Kelly O’Brien added 12 and 15 rebounds for Cal State L. A.

Brenda Lee led Cal Lutheran with 16 points, 12 rebounds and five steals. Leslie Stevens chipped in with 12.

In the first half, Cal State L. A. led, 20-9, but Cal Lutheran closed to 34-32 by halftime.

Cal State L. A. hit 52% from the field in the second half on 16-of-31 shooting while limiting Cal Lutheran to 34% (13 of 31).