Despite a sluggish first half, which saw the Sea Lions go seven and a half minutes without scoring, the team rebounded in the half's closing minutes and brought that momentum into the second half.

PLNU led 19-11 with 10 minutes to play in the first, but didn't score again until there was 2:26 remaining in the half. In that span, MNU was able to even up the score, before a deep three-pointer by PJ Hanson put PLNU back ahead.

The Sea Lions closed out the half on a 9-0 run to lead 28-19 at the break. In the second half PLNU quickly extended the lead, outscoring the Pioneers 12-3 in the half's first five minutes.

The Sea Lions kept up the pressure, especially on defense, and led by as many as 19. The closest MNU would come was a 12-point deficit with 2:55 left in the game. 

Planeta's 23 led the team, and she added nine rebounds, three blocks and three steals. Hanson finished with 11 points, and Brianna Colon had a well-rounded game with 10 points, six assists and six steals.

MNU's Bethany Rexroth led the way for the Pioneers with 14 points and 10 rebounds, but struggled from the line where she was just 4-of-10. No other Pioneer player finished in double figures, but Kristie Tiegreen had 10 rebounds.

Both teams shot poorly from the free-throw line, with the Sea Lions hitting 14-of-26 (54 percent) and the Pioneers not faring much better at 11-of-19 (58 percent).

PLNU was out-rebounded 45-39 in the win, but forced 27 MNU turnovers resulting in 26 Sea Lion points. MNU received 25 points, more than half their total, off the bench.

PLNU improves to 8-1 on the year, while MNU falls to 5-7. The Sea Lions are back in action after Christmas for the Surf'N'Slam Tournament. They are scheduled to take on Simpson (IA) at 3 pm next Monday.

-Jeremiah Wood