BELMONT, Calif. - For the second straight game the Point Loma women's basketball team relied on its interior strength to earn a victory on the road. The Sea Lions dominated the glass and the paint to defeat Notre Dame de Namur 58-39 on Saturday, Jan. 31.
 
This was the third straight road win for PLNU (11-9, 9-4 PacWest), and seventh in its last eight games overall. The Sea Lions are now just a half-game back of BYU-Hawaii for third place, and one game back of Cal Baptist for second place, in the Pacific West Conference standings. BYU-Hawaii will host CBU tonight at 9:00 p.m. (PST). The loss drops NDNU to 4-17 on the season and to 2-12 in the PacWest.
 
Point Loma posted its largest rebounding differential of the season, blasting NDNU on the glass 52-32. It was the fifth time this season the Sea Lions have won the battle of the boards; all have resulted in victories. Twenty of those 52 rebounds came off their own misses which resulted in the Sea Lions outscoring the Argonauts 20-2 in second-chance points.
 
The Sea Lions needed every one of those points as they shot 34 percent in the game and just 5-of-22 from 3-point range. Their defense was even better however, holding NDNU to just 28 percent shooting, and to 4-of-21 from behind the arc. The Sea Lions also limited the Argonauts to just 10 points in the paint to outscore them 28-10 on the inside.
 
Riley Abraham led the way with her third double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and grabbing a team-leading 12 rebounds in just 22 minutes. Jessica Escorza also added 10 rebounds, and all 11 Sea Lions that played in the game had a board. Sydney Tonack notched 11 points and seven rebounds. Madison West matched her with 11 points, which including a team-leading three treys.
 
No Argonaut student-athlete reached double-figures. Maya Arellanes led NDNU with nine points.
 
PLNU led throughout most of the first half and took a 27-18 lead at halftime. Multiple times in the second half NDNU cut the Sea Lions lead to one point, but PLNU never relinquished the lead. The Argonaurs had the score cut down to two points at 33-31 with 12:36 remaining and that is when the Sea Lions' defense clamped down. Point Loma held NDNU to just eight points, and two baskets, over the final 12-plus minutes of the game to earn the road win.
 
"Today Notre Dame de Namur was tough," said junior forward Riley Abraham. "But even when things weren't going our way we stayed focused and knew what we had to do. We came ready and played with energy the whole game.
"I love my team," she continued. "We play together really well and all get along. I know my teammates have my back, and I have theirs. I think that's how we all feel. On the court we keep fighting and have found our way. We are getting better every day at practice. I love Point Loma - the team, teachers, and campus are awesome!"
 
The Sea Lions will be back in action on Monday, Feb. 2 at the Academy of Art in San Francisco to take on the defending PacWest Champion Urban Knights. PLNU defeated ART U earlier this season 75-58. Monday's game will tipoff at 5:30 p.m.