SAN DIEGO – The Point Loma women's basketball team scored a season-high 92 points in its first home game in nearly a month to defeat Academy of Art 92-79. (Jan. 13)
 
Kennedi Byram came off the bench to post a career-high 16 points. She went 6-of-9 from the field, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Cara Liggins (20 points, 12 rebounds) and Carol Schroeder (18 points, 12 rebounds) each added double-doubles, and Haylee Saurette posted her second straight game in double-figures with 18 points. Three student-athletes for ART U combined to score 62 points. Lily Perkins led the way with a game-high 25.
 
After a back-and-forth first half, PLNU grabbed a 38-29 halftime lead. The Sea Lions proceeded to score the first seven points of the second quarter to push its lead to 45-29, but then the Urban Knights hit their run. ART U scored 31 points over the final 7:20 in the third quarter to bring the deficit to one (71-70) with 6:33 left in the fourth. The Sea Lions answered by outscoring the Urban Knights 21-9 the rest of the way, as they would shoot .667 percent in the final quarter.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (11-4, 7-2 PacWest), Academy of Art (5-8, 3-6 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The victory allows PLNU to remain tied for second place in the PacWest standings, just two games off the pace set by first-place Hawaii Pacific (14-1, 9-0 PacWest). The loss drops ART U to 3-6 and into a tied for eighth in conference play.
 
The Turning Point
While it looked like the Sea Lions might put it away after going up 17 points (52-35) with 5:35 in the third quarter, they did not completely seize control of the game until the final three minutes. With 3:22 remaining, Josselyn Morris hit a 3-pointer to cut the Sea Lions' lead to 83-77. Point Loma then went on a 9-2 run the rest of the way to close out the game.
 
Words from coach Lisa Faulkner and the student-athletes


News and Notes
> PLNU is 5-0 at home this season by an average of 22.2 points per game
> The 16 points from Byram topped her previous career-high of 13 which she scored in the Sea Lions' last game at Chaminade
> The Sea Lions have outrebounded their opponents in each of the last 12 games (10-2)
> The 74 field goal attempts were also a season-best for PLNU (made 38)
> Liggins has posted double-doubles in consecutive games
> Point Loma last played at home on Dec. 14 vs. Biola
 
Next Game
Point Loma's three-game homestand will continue this Saturday against Concordia (6-5, 4-2 PacWest). The game will tip at 2 p.m.