COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Sea Lions gave all they had, yet fell to NAIA No. 6-ranked Vanguard 70-54 Tuesday evening in the Pit. PLNU drops to 3-2 overall, 1-2 in Golden State Athletic Conference play while the Lions improved to 4-2, 2-0.

Point Loma Nazarene led the conference tilt by one point (45-44) five minutes into the second half bu Vanguard finished the second on a 26-9 run to come away with a 16-point triumph.

“We played with good energy tonight and competed well,” said PLNU coach Bill Westphal. “Vanguard is very disciplined and did a good job to close out the game.”

The game started in VUSC's favor. The Lions roared out to a quick five-point lead five minutes into the opening stanza. A Kaitlyn Trotter jumper and a three pointer from Kiley Berlinski evened the score a 10-10. The two teams were even up at 16-all until a 6-0 Vanguard run.

PLNU went on a run of their own and tracked down the Lions once again at 31-31. The Sea Lions couldn't regain the lead, though and went into the break trailing 41-36.

Another Berlinski trey and two Trotter buckets opened the second stanza and put Point Loma Nazarene in front for the first time in 13 minutes. The lead would last for nearly three minutes because neither side was able to make a shot during that span.

Veronica Beaver hit on a three to kick off a 7-0 Vanguard run. The Lion lead swelled to 12 at 5:03 after another Beaver trey and to a game-high 16 after she sank a pair of free throws at 2:58. That would be VUSC's margin of victory.

Both sides shot under 40 percent: Vanguard making 39.3 percent from the field to 33.3 from the Sea Lions. PLNU outrebounded the Lions 43-37 which included 22 offensive boards.  

The difference in the game came from long-range. Point Loma made only 6-of-28 attempts from beyond the arc while Vanguard was successful on 10-of-23 three pointers. Another key stat was the 16-of-18 free throws made by the Lions to just 4-of-10 from PLNU.

Trotter paced the Sea Lions with 25 points and 17 rebounds. Berlinsky added 13 points and five boards with Crissa Jackson dishing out a game-high nine assists.

Beaver paced the Lions with 21 points. Allison Burns had 10.

The going doesn't get any easier for the Sea Lions who host third-ranked Azusa Pacific Saturday at 5:30 pm.