This week
After a 16-day competition hiatus the Point Loma women's basketball team will return to the court to play a trio of PacWest contests starting on Tuesday, Jan. 5. PLNU will open the week on the road against Notre Dame de Namur on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m., before facing Academy of Art on Thursday, Jan. 7 at Noon. The Sea Lions will then return home to host their first game in over a month when Hawaii Hilo comes to town on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 2:00 p.m.
 
Follow along
If you are unable to attend this week's games, or any PacWest games this season, they will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video. Live stats will be free of charge while video stream will vary in price based on the venue. PLNU home matches are $8.95 on a pay-per-view basis. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday.
 
A look at the Sea Lions
The Point Loma women's basketball team is 7-4 on the season, and 1-3 in the PacWest conference. PLNU is ranked No. 5 in the unofficial West Region Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA. The Sea Lions started the season at 5-0, with four of those victories coming against teams that participated in the 2014-15 NCAA West Regional. However, PLNU has fallen on hard times recently, with a three-game losing streak and by dropping four of their last six games.
 
Roya Rustamzada is leading PLNU in points (15.5), rebounds (7.6), assists (3.2) and steals (2.2). She is seventh in the PacWest in scoring and steals, and 10th in rebounding. Rustamzada is shooting .450 percent from the field, .365 from the 3-point line and .786 percent from the charity stripe. She ranks sixth in the PacWest in 3-point percentage and seventh in overall field goal percentage. Alex Brunk is right on Rustamzada's heals in points (14.8), rebounds (7.5) and steals (2.2). She is 10th in the PacWest in scoring and rebounds, and sixth in steals. Madison West is 11th in the league with 14.7 ppg and is fourth with a .382 shooting percentage from behind the arc.
 
As a team, Point Loma is averaging 66.2 points per game while shooting .408 from the field and .349 percent from behind the arc. The Sea Lions rank third in the PacWest in steals (9.2), 3-point percentage (.349), turnovers per game (13.8) and free throws made per game (12.7).
 
A look at the Argonauts
Notre Dame de Namur is 1-10 this season and is currently one of just three winless teams in PacWest play (0-3). NDNU started the season with 10 straight losses before winning its first game of the season against Pacific Union on Dec. 31 (57-45). Jerusha Paine is leading NDNU with 11.3 points per game. Kirsten Liana is nearly averaging a double-double with 10.0 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. She also paces the squad with 3.3 assists. Marinel Alcantara (10.3) is also scoring in double-figures. As a team, Notre Dame de Namur is averaging 54.9 ppg and is shooting .335 percent from the field.
 
A look at the Urban Knights
Academy of Art is 9-5 this season and leads the PacWest standings with a 4-0 record. ARTU struggled early in the season, losing its first three games, but bounced back to win nine of their next 11, including the past four in a row. Jasmin Guinn is leading the PacWest and ARTU with 19.6 points and 3.8 steals per game. She is pacing the league in field goals (93), free throws made (74) and minutes played (36.4). Guinn is also averaging 7.9 rebounds per game. Zoie Sheng is third in the PacWest with 5.2 assists and 60 free throws made. Sha'Nice Storey is 15th in the NCAA and leading the PacWest with 35 made 3-point baskets. As a team, ARTU is averaging 78.9 ppg, and four Urban Knights are averaging in double-figures.
 
A look at the Vulcans
Hawaii Hilo is 1-6 this season and 1-1 in the PacWest. The Vulcans opened their season with six straight losses before getting in the win column with a victory over BYU-Hawaii on Dec. 12. Kim Schmelz is leading UHH with 14.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. She is hitting on .500 percent of her shots from 3-point range (11-of-22). Lauren Hong (9.3 ppg) and Alexa Jacobs (8.5 ppg) are the next leading scorers for the Vulcans. As a team, Hawaii Hilo is averaging 49.9 points and is shooting .319 percent from the field.
 
Youth Day this Saturday (Jan. 9)
For the second time this basketball season, and fifth time during the 2015-16 academic year, the Point Loma Athletic Department will be hosting a Youth Day. Members of local youth teams and the community will be in attendance to participate in pregame activities, halftime contests and postgame autograph sessions. For more information on PLNU Youth Days and all PLNU promotions visit plnusealions.com/promos.
 
Military Night Returns on Saturday, Jan. 30
PLNU Athletics will host its second Military Night of the year on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 2:00 p.m.. The Sea Lions will be honoring all former and active military members, and their admission to the game is free. Five hundred fans in attendance also will received a free PLNU camo logo t-shirt which will be used as part of the in-game recognition.  For more information on future PLNU Military Nights visit plnusealions.com/promos.
 
Next week
The Sea Lions will continue PacWest play when it hosts a pair of conference opponents. PLNU will open the week by hosting Concordia on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m., and will then take on Holy Names on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 4:00 p.m.