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IRVINE, Calif. -- Point Loma Nazarene snapped a three-game losing skid Tuesday night by knocking off Concordia 67-57. PLNU got the much-needed win despite being without key players.
 
The Sea Lions upped their overall mark to 17-12 and with an 8-9 GSAC mark, are tied for fifth in the conference standings alongside San Diego Christian College. PLNU is still without leading scorer and rebounder Nyla Bailey and starting guard Kiley Berlinski.
 
It took 12 unanswered Green and Gold points before the Eagles scored. For the first eight minutes, Point Loma scored on almost every possession. The Sea Lions would never surrender the lead during the conference tilt.
 
With eight minutes left in the first half, PLNU was leading by 21 points. The Eagles skimmed that lead down by 10 at the half, after multiple Sea Lion turnovers combined with good shooting from Concordia.
 
Shortly into the second half, Concordia threatened Loma's huge lead after a three-point shooting spree from multiple Eagles' players, but the counter shooting of Crissa Jackson gave the momentum right back to the Green and Gold.
 
Callie Rhoads also aided PLNU when Concordia threatened down the stretch. With 2:12 the score was 61-50, but Rhoads made two free throws and then had a tip-in to stretch the lead back to 13.
 
Jackson followed with two free throws and the Sea Lions would go on to to win by 10.
 
Jackson scored 21 points and recorded five rebounds. Brianna Colon added 17 and six rebounds, while Rhoads had 10 points and five rebounds.
 
“We came out with a lot of energy,” said Jackson. “That first 12 minutes was the best we've played all season. We were loose and confident. We need to keep playing like that.”
 
Concordia's Amanda Fielder pulled down 10 rebounds, while Melody Chavez and Elisha Taylor had 14 points apiece.
 
Both teams had 40 rebounds but the Sea Lions outshot the Eagles 45 percent to 27 percent.
 
Concordia drops to 7-17 overall, 4-13 GSAC and is ninth in the standings.
 
The Sea Lions will host No. 11-ranked Vanguard University for the last regular conference game of the season on Saturday, starting at 5:30 pm. The game will go a long way in deciding who and where PLNU plays to open the GSAC playoffs next week.