[Box score]
HILO, Hawaii - The 2012-13 Point Loma women's basketball team will forever be remembered at PLNU as the team rose to the challenge of its first-ever road trip to Hawaii as part Pacific West Conference road, and swept all four conference opponents on their home courts. The Sea Lions finished the sweep today (Feb. 17) with a 51-45 victory over Hawaii Hilo.
The Sea Lions (13-10, 9-6 PacWest) have now won six straight games, and eight of their last nine. The loss puts UHH at 11-9 on the season and 8-6 in the conference.
Jessica Escorza led PLNU with 19 points. She also added eight rebounds to help Point Loma outrebounded Hawaii Hilo 42-34. Escorza has now scored in double-figures in all six games during the winning streak.
Callie Rhoads also added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Andrea Campbell paced the team with nine boards and two blocks.
Savannah Erskine added four steals.
Point Loma struggled from the field throughout the game, shooting just 39 percent in the first half, and 34 percent overall. However, it was the Sea Lions' defense that carried them to the victory today. PLNU limited Hawaii Hilo to just 15 percent shooting in the first half and held them 17 points below their season scoring average.
The Sea Lions fell behind 10-7 early in the first half and then went on a 19-3 run and relinquished the lead. They led by 14 at the half but Hawaii Hilo would not go away. The Vulcans cut the lead to three points (32-28) with 2:27 remaining, but Rhoads answered with her second 3-pointer of the game, and Escorza sealed it with a pair of free throws.
"Our team is really jelling and playing as a group," said senior guard
Renee Crawford. "The coaches are putting us in the right spots to use our strengths.
"The key today was to keep our poise and aggressiveness on both offense and defense," continued Crawford. "We tried to dictate the flow of the game against a good Hilo team. We have a lot going for us and we are peaking at the right time of the year."
The Point Loma women's basketball team will be out of Hawaii next week but will still be on the road when it faces California Baptist on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 5:00 p.m.
