Sea Lions debut at No. 7 in the West
The Point Loma women's basketball team debuted as the No. 7 team in the initial NCAA West Region poll, which was released on Wednesday, Feb. 15. The Sea Lions are 20-3 on the season and 19-3 against in-region Division II opponent. PLNU is one of three PacWest teams ranked in the top 8 in the poll. Alaska Anchorage sits atop the West Region with a 23-0 record. To see the complete NCAA Regional poll, click here.
 
This week
The Sea Lions are approaching one of their most critical stretches of the season. They will play three games in Hawaii over five days (Feb. 16-21), before closing out the season against No. 4 nationally ranked California Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Hawaii trip will begin against Hawaii Pacific, which is ranked just one spot ahead of Point Loma in the regional poll. HPU is 18-4 on the season and currently leads PLNU by a half-game for second place in the PacWest standings (15-2). Point Loma will then face Chaminade on Saturday, Feb. 18 and BYU-Hawaii on Monday, Feb. 21.
 
Follow along
Be sure to keep up with the Sea Lions while they are on the road. The PacWest and its affiliate institutions offer a variety of ways for fans to follow along with the action. The games will all be available for fans to follow on live stats and live video (except at Chaminade). Live stats will be free of charge while video stream will vary in price based on the venue. To access both live stats and live video visit plnusealions.com/gameday.
 
A look at the Sea Lions
Point Loma (20-3, 14-2 PacWest) has won six straight games and 15 of their last 16 to capture the 12th 20-plus win season in program history. The Sea Lions currently sit third in the PacWest standings, a half-game behind Hawaii Pacific in the win column. Point Loma is 6-1 on the road this season.
 
Alex Brunk leads five Sea Lions in double-figures with 15.9 points per game. She is ranked fifth in the PacWest in scoring, 13th in rebounding (6.9) and third in field goal percentage (52.0). Roya Rustamzada is pacing PLNU and ranked fifth in the PacWest in rebounding with 9.0 boards. She is also averaging 13.3 ppg (15th PacWest), is third in the PacWest with 10 double-doubles and ranks eighth in assists (3.4). Anna Viettry is fifth in the PacWest with 3.9 assists per game. Kassidy Gengenbacher is the Sea Lions' third-leading scorer with 12.1 ppg, despite coming off the bench all year. She would rank fifth in the PacWest in field goal percentage (50.5) if she had a few more made baskets. Madison West's 37.3 percent 3-point field goal shooting has moved her into second in the PacWest to go along with her 10.5 ppg. Sydney Tonack gives the Sea Lions their fifth double-digit scorer, as she recently passed West with 10.6 ppg.
 
As a team, Point Loma ranks in the top 25 of NCAA Division II in eight significant categories. The Sea Lions lead the PacWest and ranks 17th in Division II by allowing just 56.9 ppg. That has allowed them to post a scoring margin of 18.5 ppg, good for ninth in the country. PLNU has also excelled in taking care of the ball this season. The Sea Lions are 14th in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.23), 18th in turnover margin (5.43), 19th in fewest turnovers (302), 21st in fewest turnovers per game (13.1) and 23rd in assists (16.2). PLNU is also 19th in field goal percentage (45.0).
 
A look at the Sharks
Hawaii Pacific sits one spot ahead of Point Loma at No. 6 in the first NCAA West Regional poll. The Sharks are 18-4 this season and in second place in the PacWest at 15-2. They have won five straight games and 12 of their last 13. Their only losses in conference have come against California Baptist. Breanna Mackenzie, HPU's leading scorer, averages 13.0 ppg and ranks 11th in the PacWest with a .401 shooting percentage. VeAnne Navarro (10.9 ppg) is also averaging in double-figures. The biggest strength for Hawaii Pacific as a team is their effort on the glass. The Sharks are leading the PacWest and ranked seventh in the country with 45.5 rebounds per game. They are outrebounding their opponents by 7.5 boards per game. They are allowing just 59.8 ppg while averaging 72.6 ppg as a team.
 
A look at the Silverswords
Chaminade is 3-19 on the season and 3-15 in the PacWest. The Silverswords have earned conference wins against Fresno Pacific, Holy Names and Hawaii Hilo. Lilia Maio's 14.1 ppg lead three Silverswords averaging in double-figures. She is also the team's rebounding leader with 6.5 boards per game. Other Chaminade student-athletes averaging in double-figures are Kristle Henry (12.6) and Destiny Castro (11.7). As a team, Chaminade is ninth in the PacWest in scoring with 65.0 ppg and fifth in field goal percentage (38.7).
 
A look at the Seasiders
BYU-Hawaii is 9-14 on the season and in 10th in the PacWest standings with a 6-11 record. The Seasiders snapped a six-game slide in their last contest with a three-point win at home over Fresno Pacific (80-77). Safia Sheikh leads three Seasiders in double-figures with 15.4 ppg. She is seventh in the PacWest in scoring. Marian Sheikh is also averaging 13.3 ppg and Kristin Baldwin is putting up 11.1 ppg. The Seasiders have started the same lineup in 22 of 23 games this season. As a team, BYUH is averaging 62.3 ppg and allowing 69.5 ppg.
 
Next games
After returning from the islands, the Sea Lions will prepare to face No. 4 California Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 25 to close out the 2016-17 regular season. The game will tipoff at 5 p.m.