box score

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Five Sea Lions scored in double-figures in Point Loma Nazarene's 75-61 non-conference win over Cal State San Marcos Thursday night. Nyla Bailey had 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks to lead Loma's attack with Crissa Jackson adding 13 points, 6 assists and 4 steals.

Though the Sea Lions (7-4) won by 14, the game saw seven lead changes and four ties. The opening half was contested from start to finish. At the break, Point Loma was up by just two points.

The score went back-and-forth through much of the second stanza. PLNU didn't start to wrest control until 12 minutes remaining in the second half when Renee Crawford drained a 3-pointer to put the Green and Gold up by one, 39-38.

Two treys, a 3-point play and a layup ended Point Loma's 10-0 run and by then the Sea Lions had gained the upper hand. Brittany Stanley's three at 12:28 put PLNU in front by 12.

The Cougars, who are playing in their first-year as an intercollegiate program, went on a run of their own though and after a 3-pointer by Justine Chacon, closed the gap to a mere three points at the 8:56 mark.

Lindsey Hill delivered back-to-back jumpers to switch the momentum back to the visitors. Jackson hit from downtown with four minutes remaining and Crawford added a jumper at 3:12 to widen the Point Loma advantage to 11.

CSSM (5-8) was forced to foul to try to get the ball back with time on the clock but the Sea Lions were steady at the stripe, making six free throws in the final minute to ice the victory in the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

"We had a great start in the second half and got better from there," said Hill. "We played great defense and battled as a team."

The Sea Lions shot 46 percent with the Cougars shooting 43 percent. CSSM outrebounded (36-31) Point Loma but the Loma defense forced 24 turnovers and turned those into 18 points.

Crawford and Hill each scored 12 points with Brianna Colon adding 10 points.

Chacon led all scorers with 24 points with teammates Michel'La Logan adding 12 points and Gabriell Munsch contributing 10.

The Sea Lions are off until December 28 when they host Wisconsin-Stevens Point at 5:30 pm. That match will be part of the Surf N Slam Small College Basketball Tournament held in Golden Gymnasium.

"It was a big win for us," Hill said after beating CSSM. "We have a longway to go before our next game. But it's a great way to go into the break. We built some momentum; hopefully we can take that into the Surf and Slam and into GSAC."