CLU BASKETBALL TEAM READIES FOR CRUCIAL STRETCH.

Byline: Patrick Hipes Daily News Staff Writer

In basketball, faring well against fellow-Division III opponents is crucial when pollsters seed teams for the postseason. With that in mind, the Cal Lutheran men's basketball showdown with UC San Diego on Saturday in Thousand Oaks is a big one.

The Kingsmen (3-2) are coming off an 88-57 victory at home against Pacific Christian College, when forward Mike Dulaney scored a season-high 18 points to up his team-leading average to 15.6 points per game.

CLU is 1-2 against division opponents this season, beating UC Santa Cruz in the opener before losing to independents Menlo College and Chapman University.

Regals to take big break: After Cal Lutheran plays host to 1995-96 national champion University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (yes, the home of the overalls) on Friday, the women's team is off for a total of 17 days before playing again.

The Regals (2-4) should enjoy the rest while they can. The team restarts Jan. 5 at Chico State, beginning a three-game road trip that keeps it away from home until the SCIAC opener Jan. 13 vs. Whittier College.

Shea honors keep coming: CLU punter Jeff Shea will play in the Aztec Bowl in Mexico City on Dec. 20, an all-star football game featuring national Division III players against a team of Mexico City all-stars.

Shea, who led the nation in punting in 1995 and 1996 and was second this season with a 44.2-yard average, will play in the Hula Bowl in Hawaii on Jan. 18.

Shea became just the fifth player to earn AFCA All-American honors in three consecutive seasons.

Philby going South: Regals defender Lara Philby, the SCIAC Player of the Year and a first-team all-American selection for the second straight year, will play in the UMBRO Select All-Star Soccer Classic in February in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Baseball camp set: The Cal Lu DAWG'S Baseball Camp for ages 6-16 begins its first of two sessions Dec. 22-24 at the CLU baseball field.

Instruction from the Cal Lutheran coaching staff will go from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The second session runs Dec. 29-31.

For information and a brochure, call [phone].

CLU 21st nationally:Cal Lutheran's athletic program finished 21st in the nation in the NCAA Division III Sears Directors' Cup, presented annually to the most successful school sports programs.

The award, given at the end of the school year, ranks schools' success in all their specific intercollegiate sports - both men's and women's.

UC San Diego, which won national titles in both women's soccer and volleyball this fall, is in first place, making CLU and UCSD the sole West Coast colleges in the top 25.

The Kingsmen men's soccer team finished fifth nationally, while the Regals women's soccer team finished 17th and women's volleyball 33rd, giving the school 70 points.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Men's varsity basketball: UC San Diego at Cal Lutheran, Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Holy Names at Cal Lutheran, Mon., 7:30 p.m.

Women's varsity basketball: University of Wisconsin-Oskosh at Cal Lutheran, Fri., 7 p.m.

SEASON STATS

Per-game averages through 12-16

Men's scoring leaders

Player Min. Reb. Pts.

M. Dulaney 30.8 6.5 15.6

M. Salser 23.6 5.6 12.8

C. Johnson 26.6 4.6 10.6

C. Whitfield 29.0 1.6 9.8

D. Sweeney 18.4 1.8 8.2

J. Allen 26.0 1.6 6.2

Women's scoring leaders

Player Min. Reb. Pts.

K. Placido 14.5 1.5 13.2

M. Rider 26.5 5.2 12.5

N. Sanchez 21.7 3.5 9.5

A. Lindseth27.3 5.0 9.0

H. Jones 19.8 3.5 8.0

B. Murrish 20.7 6.2 6.3

CAPTION(S):

2 Boxes

BOX: (1) UPCOMING EVENTS (see text)

(2) SEASON STATS (see text)