SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Roya Rustamzada registered a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and the Point Loma women's basketball team put forth a dominant defensive effort in the first half to defeat Cal State San Marcos in a non-conference game, 50-39 (Dec. 9).
 
The victory snapped a three-game losing skid for Point Loma (6-3). It also dropped the Cougars to 2-4 on the season.
 
PLNU held CSU San Marcos to just 17 percent shooting in the first half, including 1-of-15 from 3-point range, to jump out to a 29-11 halftime lead. The Sea Lions allowed just two points in the 10-minute second quarter as they extended their lead by 12. Point Loma kept up their defensive efforts in the third quarter to build their advantage to 46-24. PLNU would be happy they had every point of that lead as nothing went right for the Sea Lions in the fourth quarter.
 
CSUSM finally found a little offensive rhythm in the fourth quarter and that corresponded with a dry spell for the Sea Lions. PLNU scored just four points in the quarter and the Cougars cut the lead to nine with a 15-2 run with 3:24 remaining. The PLNU defense then stepped up once again to secure the win. Amy Ogren made a great steal and save on the sideline, and finished it with a layup to get back a little momentum. Madison West then stole the ball again from the Cougars on the ensuing possession to seal the victory.
 
"We won that game in the first half with outstanding effort on defense," said Point Loma head coach Bill Westphal. "We are still struggling on offense and that is why the game ended up being that close."
 
The Point Loma defense also forced the Cougars into 23 turnovers, and PLNU outrebounded them 40-32. CSUSM finished the game shooting 30 percent from the field.
 
Rustamzada went 9-of-17 from the field and added five steals to go along with her second double-double of the season for PLNU. Alex Brunk led the team with 12 rebounds, eight on the offensive glass.
 
Cal State San Marcos' Savannah Camp matched Rustamzada with 19 points and 11 rebounds. She was 6-of-12 from the field and 5-of-5 at the free throw line.
 
Point Loma will jump back into PacWest play on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Concordia (CA). The game will tipoff at 5:30 p.m.