Photo gallery

SAN DIEGO – The Point Loma women's basketball team overcame a 13-point second-half deficit to knockoff No. 24 Northwest Nazarene, 78-75, in its season opener.
 
The Sea Lions struggled with turnovers early as the Nighthawks built a 42-36 lead at the half and ran it to 64-51 late in the third quarter. PLNU responded with a 14-0 run in the final 1:39 of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter to take the lead.
 
From there the game went back and forth from there until Cara Liggins hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions, both assisted by freshman Ellie Turk, with three minutes left to give the Sea Lions the lead for good. Their defense then stepped up, holding NNU without a shot in the final 24 seconds of the game as the Nighthawks had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer.
 
Liggins recorded a double-double for PLNU with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds. Haylee Saurette also added a double-double with 13 rebounds and a career-high 16 rebounds. Freshman Ellie Turk came off the bench to score 15 points in her collegiate debut. Nyalam Thabach paced four NNU student-athletes in double-figures with 12 points.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (1-0, 0-0 PacWest), Northwest Nazarene (0-2)
 
Turning Point
The run at the end of the third quarter erased the largest deficit of the game for PLNU and helped propel it to the win. Ellie Turk hit all three of her 3-point baskets during this stretch.
 
Words from coach Lisa Faulkner
On the comeback win: "The biggest thing was our energy. We talked about keeping our energy high. We are great basketball players but allowed their style and pressure to make us passive. When we decided to attack we were effective."
 
On if winning a close game will help the team going forward: "Absolutely! That game had everything in it. A lead, lose of a lead, needing to make a comeback. I think think this will help us grow so much."
 
News and Notes
> The 16 rebounds for Saurette are the most for a Sea Lion since Roya Rustamzada grabbed 19 against Dixie State on Dec. 30, 2017
> The 13 made 3-pointers are the most for PLNU in a game since Dec. 12, 2015, at Concordia
> The 15 points for Ellie Turk in her debut are the most for a PLNU newcomer since Cara Liggins scored 16 in her collegiate debut (Nov. 10, 2017)
> PLNU outrebounded NNU 53-39
> The Sea Lions had assists on 18 of their 25 field goals
> Point Loma won the game despite losing the turnover battle 30-18

Up Next
Point Loma will open PacWest play on Friday, Jan. 22 at home against Concordia. The game will tip at 2 p.m. and it can be streamed for free at portal.stretchinternet.com/plnu.