LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Point Loma women's basketball team could have easily folded in its game against Biola, but the Sea Lions battled back from a 20-point halftime deficit to make it a five-point game late, before the Eagles closed it out with an 81-73 win.
 
The Sea Lions went up 19-10 late in the first quarter on the road. However, from that point until the final seconds of the second quarter, the Eagles would go on a 32-0 run to take a 42-19 lead. Kennedi Byram would hit a 3-pointer from the corner in the final seconds to end the run and give PLNU its first points of the second quarter.
 
Despite Biola's 20-point lead, the Sea Lions would not go away. They cut the deficit to 12 points late in the third quarter and had it to single-digits (66-57) with 6:26 left in the fourth. Following a pair of free throws by Onjalise Carley-Hilliard, PLNU had the lead down to five (71-66) with just under four minutes remaining, but the Eagles were able to get a couple of timely baskets and convert at the free throw line to hold on for the win.
 
Cara Liggins scored 11 of her team-high 20 points in the fourth quarter. She hit a career-high six 3-pointers, and also finished with five rebounds and two steals. Carley-Hilliard scored 13 of her 17 points from the free throw line as the senior post player hit 13-of-18 attempts from the charity stripe. Isabel Turk matched her career-high with 13 points, and Kennedi Byram had 14 points, including 11 in the first half. Biola's Stephanie Lee came off the bench and went 9-of-13 from the field to lead all scorers with 26 points.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (12-7, 8-5 PacWest), Biola (14-6, 10-4 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The loss was the second straight for PLNU in PacWest play, as they fall 1.5 games behind Biola for fourth place in the standings. The top 6 teams will advance to the PacWest Tournament, hosted by Azusa Pacific, on Mar. 5-7.
 
The Turning Point
The 32-0 run that extended nearly the entire second quarter, proved to be too big of a margin for the Sea Lions to overcome.
 
Words from coach Lisa Faulkner
On message to the team at halftime: "I told them I didn't care what the score ended up being but I want to see our fight. And we fought in the second half for sure."
 
On the defense: "We need to be consistent. We know what to do defensively it is a matter of us focusing on doing it every possession."
 
On getting ready for the next game: "Basketball is wonderful because there are lots of second and third chances. We need to get back to the basics to get ready for Concordia. When we play with urgency and passion we are very good. When we lack these we REALLY struggle."

News and Notes
> Liggins has scored 20 or more points in three of the past five games
> The 13 made free throws and 18 free throw attempts were both career-highs for Carley-Hilliard
> Byram has scored in double-figures in four of the last six games (0 in previous 24 games)
> Liggins has scored in double-figures in every game since Sydney Peterson when down with a season-ending injury
 
Next Game
Point Loma will close its three-game road trip against Concordia on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m.