SAN DIEGO – Onjalise Carley-Hilliard did her best to carry the Point Loma women's basketball team with a career-high 27 points, but it was not enough as the Sea Lions fell to Concordia, 89-80, in a matchup of two of the top 3 teams in the PacWest.
 
Carley-Hilliard went 10-of-19 from the field and 7-of-7 from the free throw line to match her career-high, which she set in her last game. Carol Schroeder recorded her second straight double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Sea Lions. Cara Liggins added 18 points and eight rebounds.
 
The Eagles were powered by Michaela Vanderklugt and Jasmine Rachal, who combined to score 48 points. Vanderklugt posted a game-high 28 points and Rachal had 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Savannah Felix-Amoroso added 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds off the bench.
 
The game was back and forth early, and was tied 18-18 after the first quarter. Concordia opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run to take a lead it would never give back. The Eagles led 45-36 at halftime and pushed their advantage to 18 (76-58) early in the fourth quarter. The Sea Lions would fight back with a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to two (80-78) with 2:58 remaining. The Eagles answered by outscoring PLNU 9-2 the rest of the way.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (11-5, 7-3 PacWest), Concordia (9-5, 7-2 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The win for Concordia moves them into sole possession for second place in the PacWest standings. The loss drops PLNU into fourth place, behind the winner of the Azusa Pacific and Biola game.
 
The Turning Point
The 8-0 run to start the second quarter gave Concordia a lead it would never relinquish, however, Point Loma still had a chance after cutting the lead to two points late, but a steal and layup by Rachal with 48 seconds left, right after the Sea Lions had the rebound, sealed the win for the Eagles.
 
Words from coach Lisa Faulkner and the student-athletes

 
News and Notes
> Point Loma did not lose a game at home during the 2019 calendar year
> PLNU was allowing just 66.3 points per game this season entering the contest
> Carol Schroeder has posted double-doubles in the last two games, and in three of the last five
> Point Loma has outrebounded its opponents in 13 straight games
> Vanderklugt was averaging 16.3 ppg coming into the game
 
Next Game
Point Loma will close out its three-game homestand against Dominican on Thursday, Jan. 23. The game will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.