HILO, Hawaii – The Point Loma women's basketball team led Hawaii Hilo heading into the fourth quarter, but they scored just six points on 2-of-20 shooting in the final period to drop its first conference game of the 2019-20 season, 58-52.
 
Hawaii Hilo led by five after the first quarter (21-16), but PLNU used a 10-0 run to start the second to build a 31-29 halftime-lead. They would add to their advantage in the third and led 46-42 to start the fourth. The Sea Lions would miss their first eight shots of the final period before Haylee Saurette broke that streak with a layup to put PLNU up 48-45 with 6:10 remaining. The Vulcans answered with a 7-0 run to take their first lead since early in the second quarter. They would hold Point Loma to 0-of-4 shooting from 3-point range in the final two minutes to seal the game.
 
Carol Schroeder led PLNU with 10 points and 10 rebounds in her third double-double performance of the season. She was the only Sea Lion in double-figures in points or on the glass. Mandi Kawaha paced the Vulcans with 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Allie Navarette also added 19 points and 13 rebounds.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (9-3, 5-1 PacWest), Hawaii Hilo (3-7, 2-4 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The loss is the first for PLNU in conference play. It knocks them down to 5-1 and into second place in the PacWest standings. Hawaii Hilo is now tied for eighth place at 2-4.
 
Words from coach Lisa Faulkner
On Hawaii Hilo: "They are well-coached, scrappy and play hard. They really slowed the game down and made big shots down the stretch. It is how basketball goes, especially on the road."
 
On the lessons to be learned: "I told them postgame that we need to learn from this experience. If things are not going well, how can we affect the game in a positive way? One of our staples has been getting to the free throw line but tonight most of what we did, especially in the fourth quarter, was from the perimeter.
 
More on the lessons to be learned: "We had a great week of practice so I am surprised we struggled the way we did, but this is a process and it is good for us in the long run. If we can take care of business on the next two games on this road trip we are still in the same spot. We want to be playing our best basketball at the end of February and in March so sometimes you need some of these experiences that aren't so pleasant to advance and get better. That is how we are going to take this. We are still going to enjoy Hawaii but we are going to get right back to practice tomorrow."
 
On the Sea Lions: "We were struggling a little bit and I had made the decision to hold Onjalise out."
 
News and Notes
> Point Loma was just 5-of-25 from behind the arc
> This was the first game all season Carley-Hilliard did not shoot .500 percent from the field
> PLNU had not lost a game all season before tonight in which it won the rebounding battle
> The Sea Lions had 17 offensive rebounds compared to 17 for the Vulcans
> Point Loma defeated Hawaii Hilo in San Diego, 78-46, on Dec. 12, 2019
 
Next Game
PLNU will face first-place Hawaii Pacific (11-1, 6-0 PacWest) on Monday, Jan. 6 at 6:30 p.m. (PST)