POMONA, Calif. – Cara Liggins scored a game-high 24 points, but a slow start cost the Point Loma women's basketball team in their 81-71 season-opening loss to Cal Poly Pomona. (Nov. 8)
 
After trading baskets early, Liggins hit a layup to bring the Sea Lions within one at 10-9, with 6:21 remaining in the first quarter. Cal Poly Pomona then went on a 34-11 run for the remainder of the half to carry a 44-20 lead into halftime.
 
Despite the deficit, Point Loma continued to fight and chip away at the lead. The Sea Lions cut it to 20 (63-43) at the end of the third quarter and to 15 (71-56) midway through the fourth quarter. PLNU got it all the way down to eight (79-71) on a pair of Sydney Peterson free throws with 46 seconds left. However, it was just a little too late as a jumper by CPP's Leila Orji with 15 left sealed the game.
 
Liggins went 8-for-17 from the field, including 5-of-9 from the 3-point line, to pace four Sea Lions in double figures. Carol Schroeder hit 5-of-6 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line to post 16 points. Peterson added 11 points, and Onjalise Carley-Hilliard scored 10 in her Sea Lions' debut.  Jackie Ricketson had 18 points to lead the Broncos.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (0-1, 0-0 PacWest), Cal Poly Pomona (3-1, 0-0 CCAA) 

Words from coach Faulkner & the student-athletes
On Cal Poly Pomona: "They put pressure on us to build a big lead early. They play together well.  They have some seniors with some really good game experience, and this was already their fourth game of the season. They started the game with a lot of confidence, and we played back on our heels and allowed their pressure to upset us."
 
On PLNU: "We didn't do the things you need to do to win. We didn't box out or grabbing rebounds. We just got into too big of a hole to get out of."
 
More on the Sea Lions: "We just need everyone to be the best versions of themselves, and then you will see a team that is very hard to beat."
 
On Cara Liggins' game: "Cara played well. She knocked down open 3-pointers, she was aggressive and was able to finish. We expect that from her. She is a returning first team all-conference player."
 
On fighting back in the second half: "I was proud of our adjustments at halftime. We got in the mindset that we could go attack, and we then did a much better job of making plays. We stopped allowing them to dictate what we did on offense and that is why we scored 51 points in the second half. "
 
On lessons from the loss: "There are a lot of things we can learn from this game. That is a good team on their home court. We are still getting used to playing together, and we will have a good chance to show our growth tomorrow."

News and Notes
> These teams also opened the season against each other last year (CPP won 70-54)
> Carley Hilliard, Henderson, and Kylie Hearn all made their Sea Lions' debut tonight
> PLNU went 19-of-23 from the free throw line
> Cal Poly Pomona's bench outscored Point Loma's 32-7
> CPP went 2-1 last week in the CCA Division II Tip-Off Classic

Up Next
The PLNU women's basketball team will be back on the court tomorrow (Nov. 9) to face Cal State San Bernardino in a neutral court game in Azusa, Calif. The game will tip-off at 3 p.m.