SAN DIEGO - Roya Rustamzada scored 12 of her game-high 20 points in the fourth quarter to help the Point Loma women's basketball team go on a 22-7 run in the final period to earn a 67-56 non-conference victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Coach Westphal Recognition Night (Feb. 3).
 
This is the seventh straight win for Point Loma, which improved to 15-5 (8-4 PacWest). The loss drops the Coyotes to 10-9 on the season (7-7 CCAA).
 
PLNU was up only two points going into the fourth quarter after having led the entire game, but CSUSB opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets to take a 45-43 lead on PLNU. The Sea Lions did not panic though, and instead put together their best quarter of the game. Sydney Tonack calmly sank two free throws to tie the game at 45-45 and then Rustamzada hit a deep 3-pointer to put Point Loma back in front. She added a jumper, a 3-pointer and an assist on a trey by Amy Ogren to help the Sea Lions outscore the Coyotes 22-7 from the 8:30 mark until the final 20 seconds in the fourth quarter.
 
Rustamzada added a team-leading 11 rebounds to go along with her 20 points for her fourth double-double of the season.  She was 7-of-14 from the field, 3-of-5 from 3-point range and a perfect 3-of-3 at the charity stripe. She also notched an assist, a block and three steals.
 
"Roya is our Draymond Green (of the Golden State Warriors)," said Point Loma head coach Bill Westphal. "She does so many things for this team, and tonight she step up and scored. We really need her and it was wonderful to see how she played tonight."
 
Rustamzada also got help from Madison West and Alex Brunk, who each scored 13 points. Anna Viettry chipped in with eight. PLNU also got seven points from Amy Ogren and six from Sydney Tonack.
 
The Sea Lions' biggest advantage came from their ability to take care of the ball, while forcing the Coyotes into turnovers. The Sea Lions had just 14 turnovers in the game compared to 23 for CSUSB. PLNU used that edge to outscore Cal State San Bernardino 28-7 on points off turnovers. Point Loma also outscored CSUSB by 15 points from behind the arc and was 16-for-20 from the free throw line.
 
This all contributed to helping the Sea Lions earn a victory on Coach Westphal Recognition Night. Before the contest Point Loma paid tribute to their coach of 17 years which has announced his retirement for the end of the season. Coach Westphal was joined on the court pregame by his wife, daughters, son-in-laws, and grandchildren, along with former and active players. Coach Westphal now has 593 wins in his career.
 
The Point Loma women's basketball team will try to get coach Westphal one win closer to 600 when they host defending PacWest Champions Hawaii Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 2:00 p.m.
 
"Hawaii Pacific is pretty good and we will have to shoot well to win," Westphal explained. "We are not a dominant rebounding or inside team but when we shoot well we are a team to contend with."