PORTLAND, Ore. - The Point Loma women's basketball team showed off its defensive prowess, especially in the second half, to earn a regional win on the road over Concordia (Ore.), 75-44, on Saturday, Nov. 30.
The Sea Lions held the Cavaliers to .208 percent shooting in the game, and just .171 percent in the second half. PLNU also limited Concordia to 3-for-23 shooting from behind the arc to hold them to a season-low 44 points.
Meanwhile, Point Loma never trailed in the contest. The Sea Lions led 16-10 at the end of the first quarter and 33-24 at the half. They would extend that lead to 14 points (56-42) at the end of the third quarter, before allowing just one basket in the fourth quarter en route to outscoring the Cavaliers 21-2 over the 10-minute stretch.
Onjalise Carley-Hilliard posted her sixth straight game in double-figures and led PLNU with 15 points. She went 4-of-6 from the field and 7-of08 from the charity stripe.
Sydney Peterson hit 5-of-6 shots from the field, and all three of her attempts from behind the arc to add 14 points.
Haylee Saurette added 11 points and seven boards, and
Isabel Turk came off the bench to grab a game- and career-high 12 rebounds, including 10 just in the first half. Olivia Vezaldenos and Abby Zhang scored 11 points apiece to lead the Cavaliers.
Team Records
Point Loma (4-2, 0-0 PacWest), Concordia (1-7, 0-0 GNAC)
Words from coach Lisa Faulkner
On the defensive effort: "It was a great defensive effort. From the start of the game, we were locked in, and we followed the game plan. We have progressively been getting better at doing the things we do well. To hold teams in the 40's for two games in a row is very impressive. I'm just proud of the way that we brought in to defending."
On the 27 bench points and the development of the bench: "We've known all year that we have a ton of depth and it's just a matter of confidence with some of those players that aren't starting but are still playing significant minutes. I feel like they've started to figure out what their role is and where they can bring energy. Everybody on the team is capable of scoring, and I think now finally getting having confidence to come in and take the shots when we're open."
More on the development of the team: "It's a process, and we don't want to be playing our best ball in November and December when the plan is to be playing our best basketball in February and March. We've already grown so much just this first month of the season, and I'm really looking forward to starting conference play."
On getting the win in her hometown: "This was actually the first time I've gotten to come up as a coach, so it was nice. Kennedi (Byram) had huge fan support, and I had my brother and old high school coach there. There were definitely a lot of northwest people they're rooting for Point Loma, so that was fun. It's just a fun progression in my career. From being a player here to then coming back and playing in college to now being able to have my own team is really special for me. However, I think it was probably even more special for Kennedi. That was it was really, really cool that she had probably over 20 people here cheering for her."
News and Notes
> This was the first-ever meeting between the schools
> PLNU's starters combined to shoot 15-of-25 from the field, and 5-of-7 from 3-point range
> Turk's previous career-high in rebounds was seven
> Coach Faulkner grew up in the Portland area and played her high school ball at Oregon City HS
Up Next
PLNU will head on the road to open PacWest play on Thursday, Dec. 5, at Dominican. The game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.
