Box Score

SEATTLE - The 2013-14 season is officially underway, and the Sea Lions are already in the win column. Savannah Erskine scored a team-high 20 points to lead four PLNU student-athletes in double-figures as the Point Loma women's basketball team picked up a 74-62 victory in its season opener over Central Washington at the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic (Nov. 15).

Erskine went 8-of-14 from the field, including hitting four 3-pointers, while dishing out eight assists and posting two steals in the victory. She helped the Sea Lions control the ball throughout the game as she had just two turnovers to go along with her eight assists. The senior point guard set the tone of ball control for PLNU, which had just eight turnovers in the contest (and only two in the second half) compared to 20 for CWU.

Jessica Escorza was one of the key factors in the Sea Lions ball hawking efforts throughout the game. She had six steals to go along with her 13 points. She also added three assists and was 7-of-9 at the free throw line. Erin Andersen came off the bench to chip in with 12 points and a team-leading eight rebounds. Callie Rhoads also added 11 points for PLNU.

Jessica VanDyke had a double-double in the losing effort for the Wildcats with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The first half was back and forth the entire 20 minutes with the score being tied on six occasions and changing hands 12 other times. It would take a 3-pointer by Carlotta Kloppenburg as time expired to give Point Loma the 35-33 halftime lead.

The second half began just like the first with CWU hitting a trey to take back the lead. The two teams would exchange baskets until the score was knotted at 44-44 on the first of two free throws by Escorza, and this is when PLNU made its move to seal the game. Escorza would knock down the second shot at the charity stripe and from that point PLNU went on a 16-3 run over the next eight minutes to take a 60-47 lead. Five different Sea Lions scored during the run, including Andersen who hit three layups. With the lead and time winding down the Sea Lions got a couple of 3-pointers from Kloppenburg and Erskine to seal the game.

"We came out really strong and then we were able to adjust well to mistakes, especially in our first game," said the senior point guard Erskine. "We have good team chemistry. We are all very positive with each other. We have very high expectations for our team, not only because of experience, but more because we play together as a team and get along well on and off the court.

"Central Washington was very good (and very physical)," continued Erskine. "We had to learn to play against a physical team and we were able to do it."

The Sea Lions got to the line eight more times than the Wildcats, and outscored them by five from the charity stripe (18-13).  PLNU had steals on 16 of CWU's 20 turnovers.

The Point Loma women's basketball team will return to action tomorrow against tournament hosts, Seattle Pacific, at 5:00 p.m. to close out the Sodexo Tip-Off Classic.

We are loving the trip, even the weather," Erskine added with a smile.