SAN DIEGO - Five Sea Lions scored in double-figures as the Point Loma women's basketball team rolled to its ninth straight win with an 80-47 victory over Dixie State on Saturday, Jan 14.
The winning streak is PLNU's longest since the 2013-14 season and has propelled them to second place in the PacWest standings at 8-1 (14-2 overall). This is also the Sea Lions' best start to a season since the 2007-08 campaign when the team began the year 29-2, and put together a 23-game winning streak. The loss drops Dixie State to 2-14 and to 2-8 in the PacWest.
Kassidy Gengenbacher and
Madison West paced PLNU with 16 points apiece.
Alex Brunk posted her third double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 boards.
Roya Rustamzada again filled up the stat sheet with 13 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Anna Viettry also got in on the scoring party, registering a season-best 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting. She also added four assists and helped spearhead a strong defensive effort by the Sea Lions.
Point Loma held Dixie State to 37.3 percent shooting in game, and to single-digit scoring efforts in the second (8) and fourth quarters (7). PLNU outrebounded them by 15 (42-27) and outscored the Trailblazers 12-3 on second chance points. In addition, the Sea Lions went to the free throw line 23 times (19 makes) and limited DSU to just six attempts (two makes) from the charity stripe.
"We definitely had some lapses but outside of those we played a very solid defensive game," Faulkner explained. "We really developed an identity of how we defend people in man-to-man. There is nothing complicated about it and we are doing really well with it. Everyone has bought into being really good individual defenders and we have stuck with our game plans."
Their defense allowed the Sea Lions to overcome a slow start in the first quarter. In the second quarter, PLNU extended its lead from 15-13 to 40-21 at the half with a 25-point quarter. That offensive rhythm continued into the second half as Point Loma put up 27 points and went up 67-40. They would coast to the victory from there.
"Honestly those types quarters start on the defensive end and getting out in transition," said Point Loma head coach
Lisa Faulkner. "The last few games we have really worn teams down by just keeping our foot on the gas and keep running. A lot of defenses are good in the first quarter but they start to break down when they get a little bit tired, and we have done a very good job pushing the ball and finding open people for layups.
"One of the things we have been talking about a lot is the process, and the way we play," continued coach Faulkner. "We are not focused on the wins and losses but instead on execution and about how good we can become individually and collectively. We try not to pay attention to the scoreboard or what is going on in the course of the game, it is more about how we are executing and being the best team we can be. If we can focus on the process more than the results, at the end of the day we will be the best version of ourselves."
Jaden Gonzalez led Dixie State with 14 points. Tramina Jordan added 10 points and five rebounds.
The Sea Lions' next game will be on the road against defending PacWest Champions Azusa Pacific (7-10, 5-4 PacWest), on Monday, Jan. 16 at 5:30 p.m.
"Azusa Pacific is well coached and will play very hard," added Faulkner. "They are going to come out and try to hit us in the mouth to compete with us, but we will be ready for them and we've gotten better throughout the season. This will be a good challenge for us on their home court."
