LAIE, Hawaii - Four Sea Lions scored 15 or more points as the No. 7 regionally ranked Point Loma women's basketball team locked down the No. 2 seed in the upcoming PacWest Conference Tournament with an 81-58 win over BYU-Hawaii on Monday, Feb. 20.
 
The victory completed a sweep on the three-game Hawaii road swing for the Sea Lions (23-3, 17-2 PacWest). It was their ninth straight victory, and PLNU has now won 18 of its last 19 games. It also guaranteed Point Loma second place in the final 2016-17 standings. The loss completes BYU-Hawaii's season at 10-16 (7-13 PacWest).
 
"Sweeping these games was our goal coming over to Hawaii," said Point Loma's first-year head coach Lisa Faulkner. "I am very proud of this group to meet that goal and secure the No. 2 seed in the PacWest Tournament."
 
Roya Rustamzada paced PLNU with 16 points shooting 5-of-11 from the field, and accounting for three of the Sea Lions' four 3-pointers in the game.  She added three assists and two steals. Alex Brunk had a team-high nine rebounds to go along with her 15 points. Sydney Tonack went 6-of-9 from the field to record her 15 points and Kassidy Gengenbacher came off the bench to post 15 points while going 7-of-7 at the free throw line. Anna Viettry added a team-high four assists and three steals.  
 
The Seasiders' Safia Sheikh led all scorers with 19 points and four 3-pointers in just 23 minutes of play. Kristin Baldwin registered a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
 
The Sea Lions dominated the middle, outscoring BYU-Hawaii 42-16 on points in the paint and winning the rebounding margin by plus-4 (34-30). PLNU also benefitted by taking care of the ball and winning the turnover battle 24-9. The Sea Lions had 18 assists on their 28 baskets, all while committing just nine turnovers. Point Loma also reached the free throw line 26 times (21 makes) while holding BYU-Hawaii to just 16 attempts (14 makes).
 
Once again Point Loma jumped out to an early lead and was up 36-23 at the half, but it was more of a struggle as the Sea Lions shot just 37.1 percent from the field, and 15.4 percent from 3-point range, in the first 20 minutes of the game. However, despite the poor shooting, the defense still came to play as it held to just the 23 points on 35.0 percent shooting. In the second half Point Loma found its rhythm, going 15-of-29 from the field.
 
"It was an interesting game, and it was played at a slower pace than we are used to," said coach Faulkner. "But this showed me that even when we are not shooting well we find ways to score. We just keep doing our thing, and I looked up and we had 81 points. That is what I love about coaching this team."
 
PLNU will get ready for a challenge in its regular season finale as it travels to No. 4 nationally ranked California Baptist on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. 
 
"We are peaking at the right time of the year, and we are excited for the chance to play California Baptist again," Faulkner added.
 
This was the final game in the history of the BYU-Hawaii women's basketball program as the school will be discounting its athletic programs after this season.