HONOLULU - The Point Loma women's basketball team proved it deserved to be ranked among the upper echelon of NCAA West Region teams and a possible first-round bye in the upcoming PacWest Conference Tournament with a 68-58 road win over Hawaii Pacific on Thursday, Feb. 16.
 
The Sea Lions (21-3, 15-2 PacWest) were ranked No. 7 in the first NCAA Regional poll, while Hawaii Pacific (18-5, 15-3 PacWest) earned the No. 6 seed. The win allowed Point Loma to jump Hawaii Pacific for second place in the PacWest standings, and a possible first-round bye. But when the teams took the court and the standings were put aside, PLNU had to battled valiantly all 40 minutes to get its most impressive win of the season.
 
Point Loma did what any good team wants to do on the road; take the crowd out of the game. After the teams traded early baskets, PLNU went on a 14-4 run and lead 30-23 at the half. They pushed their lead all the way to 22 points with an 18-3 run to open the second half. HPU would not cut the lead back to single digits till the final seconds of the game.
 
"We had great, aggressive team defense all game," said Point Loma head coach Lisa Faulkner. "We made some big shots and some big plays but it all came down to stopping them on the defensive end."
 
The Sea Lions' defense held Hawaii Pacific 15 points below their season average of 72.6 points per game. HPU shot 31 percent from the field, including 3-of-28 from 3-point range, and had 19 turnovers. The two leading scorers for the Sharks, Breanna Mackenzie and VeAnna Navarro, were each held scoreless.
 
"That was an awesome defensive effort," Faulkner added. "We had great energy and fought through screens. All the guards were excellent and the posts really battled inside. Our energy got them tired as the game went along."
 
It might have been that fatigue or the Sea Lions' offensive strategy, but they continued to attack the Sharks off the dribble all night and got to the free throw line 42 times (33 made). Meanwhile, HPU took just 16 free throws in the game (nine made).
 
Roya Rustamzada's 11th double-double of the season paced four Sea Lions offensively in double-figures. The junior forward scored 16 points, going 8-of-10 at the line, and hauled in 12 rebounds. Kassidy Gengenbacher again proved a value weapon off the bench. She came in to score 15 points and grab six rebounds. She was 11-of-14 at the free throw line to outscore the entire HPU team from the charity stripe. Madison West scored 10 of her 13 points in the first half and her three 3-pointers matched the Sharks from behind the arc. Sydney Tonack knocked down all four of her free throw attempts and finished with 10 points.
 
Hawaii Pacific did own a distinct advantage on the glass, outrebounding Point Loma by plus-20, including by 15 on the offensive end.
 
"They are the best rebounding team in the conference," Faulkner explained. "They missed a lot tonight but they crashed really hard. When we could get the ball we were able to get out and score.
 
"We know we need to focus on rebounding," she continued. "When we get to the PacWest Tournament, and hopefully beyond, we know that it is a huge key."
 
Point Loma will continue its road trip with a game against Chaminade on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. (PST) and close out the trip against BYU-Hawaii on Monday, Feb. 20.
 
"We know what is at stake in these next two games," said Faulkner. "We are going to enjoy Hawaii a little but this is a business trip and the girls are focused on what they need to."