SAN DIEGO - Riley Abraham scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Roya Rustamzada recorded her first career double-double with 16 points and 11 boards to help lead the Point Loma women's basketball team to a 77-65 victory over Fresno Pacific on Friday, Feb. 6.
 
This was the ninth win for the Sea Lions (13-9, 11-4 PacWest) in their last 10 games as they tightened their grip on third place in the Pacific West Conference. It also avenges PLNU's loss at Fresno Pacific earlier this season. The loss drops FPU to 3-16 and to 3-11 in the PacWest.
 
The size of Point Loma was too much for the Sunbirds. The Sea Lions outscored them 44-22 in the paint and outrebounded FPU 37-28. Abraham led the charge inside as she went 9-of-17 from the field with many of her shots coming from inside three feet. Taking it inside turned into a theme for the whole Sea Lion team. They shot a season-low eight 3-pointers (making three) but they got to the rim all game and shot 50 percent (29-of-58) as a team.
 
Rustamzada hit two of the team's 3-pointers and added four assists to go along with her double-double. Jessica Escorza added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Anna Viettry also chipped in with eight points and four steals, and Amy Ogren came off the bench with nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting.
 
Point Loma never trailed in the contest. The Sea Lions were up by as many as 14 in the first half and led 37-30 at the half. FPU cut the Sea Lions' lead to three points early in the second half (39-36) but PLNU answered with a 7-0 burst on layups by Escorza and Rustamzada and a 3-pointer from Madison West. Fresno Pacific would never get closer than eight points thereafter.
 
Dakota McLarnan led the Sunbirds with 12 points. No starter for FPU reached double-figures.
 
This was the first of a four-game homestand for the Sea Lions. Next week they will host Hawaii Hilo on Tuesday (Feb. 10), Hawaii Pacific on Thursday (Feb. 12) and BYU on Saturday (Feb. 14). Tuesday's and Thursday's contests will tipoff at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday's game at 2:00 p.m.