[Box score]

SAN DIEGO – Jil Haentges scored a career-high 16 points and Savannah Erskine added 14 as the Point Loma women's basketball team never trailed en route to defeating Azusa Pacific, 61-42, in the first-ever Pacific West Conference game for each team (Dec. 1).

The win pushes the Sea Lions back over .500 to 3-2 on the season. They also moved to 1-0 in the conference. The loss dropped APU to 1-5 on the season and 0-1 in the PacWest.

Haentges hit 4-of-5 shots from behind the arc and 6-of-10 overall to shatter her previous career-high of nine points. Erskine put together her best game to date as a Sea Lion with career-highs in points (14) and assists (seven). She added three steals to help PLNU forced APU into 22 turnovers as the Sea Lions won the turnover battle by eight. Nyla Bailey also added 12 points and Callie Rhoads came off the bench to score eight. Haentges and Rhoads combined to outscore the Cougars' bench 24-12.

PLNU led 26-20 at the half. To begin the second period APU scored the first basket of the half then the Sea Lions rattled off 16 straight points to seize control of the game. They would push their lead to as many as 22 points midway through the second half.

Point Loma has now held opponents to under 60 points in four of five games this season. The Sea Lions have won three of those contests. In today's game, APU managed to shoot just 27 percent from the field, including going just 6-for-24 from 3-point range. In the second half the Sea Lions forced the Cougars into 11 turnovers while turning the ball over just three times themselves. PLNU outscored APU 19-9 in points off turnovers and 8-2 in fast break points.

Point Loma did not attempt a free throw in the entire game. It had assists on 18 of its 26 baskets.

The Point Loma women's basketball team will now take on the University of San Diego in an exhibition game on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Jenny Craig Pavilion.