IRVINE, Calif. - Alex Brunk hit 14-of-19 shots to set a PacWest Championships record with 36 points, but was not enough for the Sea Lions to overcome Academy of Art that was the better team on Thursday as the Point Loma women's basketball team fell 77-70 (Mar. 3).
 
The loss eliminates PLNU (19-10, 12-8 PacWest) from the PacWest tournament, and put a significant blow in any hopes to receive an at-large berth to the NCAA West Regional. This was also the final game in the great career of head coach Bil Westphal , who ends his career with 597 wins (more below). ARTU (24-7, 18-2 PacWest) will advance to the PacWest semifinals to face No. 2 seeded California Baptist on Friday, Mar. 4 at 2:45 p.m.
 
Brunk scored 21 of her 36 points in the second half, and 21 of the Sea Lions' 38 in the final 20 minutes. She hit a game-high four 3-pointers and matched a career-best with 16 rebounds to record her 11th double-double of the season. Eight of her rebounds came on the offensive glass, and she also added two steals and six assists while playing all 40 minutes.
 
"My teammates found me in good scoring positions and gave me that confidence boost to go out there and play my hardest," explained Brunk. 
 
"(Brunk) is one of the best players in the conference," said her teammate and fellow sophomore Roya Rustamzada. "She really proved herself, and she is a phenomenal player and person."
 
The game was close half time with PLNU down just 39-32. ARTU took control of the game right after the half time with a 12-4 run to push its lead into double-digits, and the Sea Lions didn't have an answer until it was too late. ARTU went up by as many as 18 points in the second half. PLNU chipped away and had it down to 11 with 3:25 left but Academy of Art made 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal the game. The seven-point, final margin of victory was the closest PLNU was since halftime.
 
"You must put the ball in the hoop or it all just snowballs," said Point Loma head coach Bill Westphal, "your momentum, enthusiasm and energy just drop when you keep missing open shots."
 
Uncharacteristically, Point Loma was hurt at the free throw line where it has dominated most of the season. ARTU outscored them by 12 (19-7) at the charity stripe in the contest. PLNU took just 12 free throws in the game (7-of-12) while the Urban Knights got to the free throw line 28 times (19-of-28). ARTU also had a plus-6 advantage in turnovers (14-8).
 
In addition to Brunk's 36 points, PLNU also got 13 points apiece from Roya Rustamzada and Sydney Tonack. Jasmin Guinn led four Urban Knights in double-figures with 25 points and eight rebounds.
 
The final game in coach Westphal's career, which expanded over 40 years on the sidelines, including the last 17 at PLNU, did not end the way he would have liked but is still going out with a smile.
 
"The finale is a little disappointing," said Westphal. "I am not as disappointed for me but more for our women, they really wanted this one."
 
The Sea Lions will lose just one senior from their 2015-16 team, Jordan Ligons. PLNU is expected to have its top seven scorers back for next season, including All-PacWest selections Madison West and Alex Brunk, along with fellow starters Roya Rustamzada, Anna Viettry and Sydney Tonack.