SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Onjalise Carley-Hilliard and Cara Liggins each recorded double-doubles with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Point Loma women's basketball team to the 79-71 win over Dominican in its PacWest Conference opener. (Dec. 5)
 
The efforts by Liggins and Carley-Hilliard helped the Sea Lions dominate the Penguins on the glass as they outrebounded them 57-38, including 23-8 on the offensive end.
 
The Sea Lions took an early eight-point lead in the first quarter, but Dominican fought back and would tie the game at 21 in the second quarter. Just when you thought the Sea Lions would run away, Dominican would fight back. PLNU would go to the locker room, leading 31-30.

In the third quarter, there were 12 lead changes, and at the end of the quarter, PLNU would hold a 51-50 lead. After the third quarter ended, Sydney Peterson took control. She would score all 17 of her points in the fourth quarter alone, making some of the most crucial baskets in the game.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (5-2, 1-0 PacWest), Dominican (3-4, 0-1 PacWest)

Words from coach Lisa Faulkner
On the road win: "Any road win in the PacWest is a big win. We didn't play our best basketball today but we figured out a way to get a victory. That in itself is huge and will help our process throughout the course of the year. I am proud of our group for that. There are a number of things we can approve on but overall I am happy we figured out the way to get the victory."
 
On the development of the defense: "We certainly made some mistakes defensively but we continue to hammer home that if we defend we will be in every game. We have enough scoring power that we'll figure it out offensively. As long as we take care of business on the defensive end that will allow us to really compete at a high-level. We are still trying to figure out how to do that consistently over the course of 40 minutes." 
 
News and Notes:
> PLNU had three players score exactly 17 points (Carley-Hilliard, Liggins, Peterson)
> Point Loma held Dominican to 3-of-12 shooting in the second quarter
> Peterson has scored in double-figures in each of the first seven games

Next Game:
PLNU will travel to Belmont, Calif., on Saturday, December 7, to take on Notre Dame de Namur.