THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - After battling back from a 10-point deficit with six minutes left, the George Fox University Bruins could not finish off the comeback and saw their 36-game winning streak end in a 54-48 loss to the California Lutheran University Regals in a non-conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon here at Gilbert Arena.

George Fox, ranked 4th in the D3hoops.com pre-season poll and 5th in this week's WBCA poll, fell to 4-1 with their first loss since a 47-40 loss to Hope College on March 14, 2008, in the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division III National Tournament.  The Bruins went 32-0 in winning last year's national championship.  Cal Lutheran improved to 2-0 with the upset win.

With Breezy Rinehart-Young scoring five points on two layups and a free throw, the Bruins took a 6-2 lead three minutes into the game.  The offense then went stone-cold as the Bruins twice went seven minutes without scoring, shot only .222 (6-27) in the first half, and were 0-14 on their three-point attempts.

Taking advantage of the Bruins' slump, the Regals went on a 21-4 run to build a 23-10 lead with 1:23 left in the period.  Shana Moore's 3-for-3 for six points off the bench led the charge for the Regals.  Keisha Gordon scored the last six points of the half for the Bruins on two conventional three-point plays as they trimmed the deficit to 23-16 at the break.

The Regals maintained a lead between seven and 13 points for most of the second half and were up by 10 at 47-37 with six minutes left when the Bruins mounted one last charge.  Elise Kuenzi hit a three to ignite the Bruins, and Gordon followed with a three, two free shots, and a jumper to knot the game 47-47 with 2:35 left.  However, they could not sustain the rally and got only a Kuenzi free throw the rest of the way.   

Channing Fleischmann hit a jumper for the Regals at the 2:06 mark to break the tie, and a Starla Wright layup and Erica Whitley free throw gave Cal Lutheran 52-47 advantage with 46 ticks left.  After Kuenzi's free throw, Fleischmann and Brianna Parker closed out the Regals' victory with one free toss apiece.

Gordon led all scorers with 17 points and Kuenzi added 13 for the Bruins, who finished with a.263 shooting percentage (15-57), including a .161 mark (5-31) on threes.  Hannah Munger had eight rebounds as the Bruins edged the Regals on the boards 43-42, and also blocked eight shots.  B.B. Gardner had three assists and Gordon made four steals.

The Regals had no one in double figures in points, but had two players - Fleischmann and Meaghan Goodenough - with nine each.  Wright led the home team with nine rebounds, Goodenough had three assists, and Danika Briggs picked up four steals.  Cal Lutheran shot .321 (17-53) from the field. 

NOTES: George Fox returns home to play Lewis-Clark State College of the NAIA's Division I Saturday at 7:00 p.m.  It will be the Bruins' final home non-conference game before Northwest Conference play begins on Jan. 2. ... Cal Lutheran hosts La Sierra University Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.