SAN DIEGO – Point Loma hosted the Toros of Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday in their second game of the Thanksgiving Classic. The teams are pitted against each other once more after opening their seasons playing one another in Azusa, Calif. The Sea Lions came away victorious in the first game 97-72 and looked to find similar success today.
 
After one quarter the Sea Lions would lead 16-13, despite shooting only 30% from the floor. Point Loma would uncharacteristically give up 27 second quarter points and the Toros would have a five-point lead, 40-35, heading into the half. The Toros would extend their lead in the third quarter and take a nine-point lead, 55-46. Despite holding the Toros to 34 total second half points, the Sea Lions were unable to get an offensive rhythm going and they fell 74-65.
 
Tayla Hepburn led the Sea Lions in scoring with 25 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Rustamzada scored the second-most points for PLNU with 11, the only other Sea Lion with double figures. Stephanie Williams stepped up defensively with five steals to go along with eight points and five rebounds. Coming in to tonight's game the team was shooting 46 percent from the floor and 37 percent from three, but they struggled against the Toros shooting 33 percent overall and only 22 percent from three-point range.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (5-2), Cal State Dominguez Hills (4-3)
 
The Turning Point
With the score tied at 31, the Toros went on a 9-4 run to close out the first half and were able to keep the Sea Lions at bay for the remainder of the game.
 
Thoughts from Coach Faulkner
On the poor shooting performance: "We missed a lot of easy layups and open jump shots. The open jump shots, that's going to happen sometimes, but the missed layups show a lack of focus and a lack of toughness. We didn't go up strong, we didn't finish, and it's tough to win a basketball game when you shoot 33 percent and the misses are easy ones."

On the inability to convert turnovers into points: "We needed to make our layups. Everything we practice on a daily basis, we had those opportunities today and we just didn't take advantage of them. It was a game of missed opportunities, but there will be some good film from this game and good learning opportunities."

On losing for the first time at home in the last 14 games: "We love playing at home, I think we have a good advantage here. This loss didn't have much to do with playing at home as much as it was a lack of focus and a lack of intensity. For us to not have as much energy and intensity as the other team, at home, is inexcusable."

News and Notes
> Tayla Hepburn earned her first double-double of the season when she reached the 10 rebound mark, Hepburn has scored in double digits in every game for the Sea Lions this season.
> This was the first game of the season that Alex Brunk did not score in double figures. 
> This was Point Loma's first home loss in 2017, they had previously been on a 13-game home winning streak. 
> Roya Rustamzada is currently tied for 10th place in career three-pointers made with 116. 
> Stephanie Williams' five steals was a career-high. 
> PLNU's 11 points in the third quarter was the lowest total of any quarter this season. 
 
Up Next
The Sea Lions will host Bethesda in an exhibition game on Wednesday, November 29^th at 7 p.m.