box score

BUTTE, Mont. – Crissa Jackson scored 23 points and Nyla Bailey had 18 points as Point Loma Nazarene edged Montana Tech 79-75 Friday night. The Sea Lions improved to 6-2 on the year after posting two wins in Montana.

The non-conference match went back-and-forth for the entire 40 minutes. The Diggers had an 11-5 advantage early until a 3-pointer and a jumper on consecutive possessions by Kiley Berlinski sliced into the deficit.

A Montana Tech turnover was followed by a bucket from Bailey and PLNU was out in front 12-11. The Diggers and Sea Lions traded points before another Loma run pushed the visitor's lead to eight at the 9:25 mark.

PLNU went cold for awhile, however, and the Diggers charged back and went up by four late in the first half. Treys by each squad ended the half, Montana Tech going into the break ahead 37-35.

Bailey opened the second with a jumper to even the score at 37-all, setting off another see-saw stanza. The game would be tied six more times over the final 19 minutes.

A pair of free throws by Jackson with 22 seconds remaining seemed to have sealed the win for Point Loma, but a Montana Tech three brought the home team to within two points.

The Diggers fouled Jackson with five seconds left and the senior point guard made them pay when she made both for the final 79-75 score. Jackson was good on all eight of her attempts at the line Friday.

Briana Colon contributed 13 points with Berlinksi chipping in with 10 points. Jackson also added eight assists and five steals to her statline.

Both teams shot 46 percent. The main difference was 13 free throws by PLNU compared to just three by the Diggers.

The Sea Lions return to California and will open conference play on Tuesday with a 5:30 pm tilt at Vanguard.