SAN DIEGO---On the last game of a back-to-back, the Point Loma Sea Lions (4-2 overall) found their rhythm in an 81-75 bounce-back win over Simon Fraser University (3-5 overall) Saturday afternoon at the Sea Lions Thanksgiving Classic inside Golden Gymnasium.

Less than 24 hours removed from one of their lowest scoring outputs on the young season, Point Loma delivered its best start of the year and held on thanks to some crucial steals in crunch-time.

"What I'm proud of is that last couple of minutes when they went ahead by one." Point Loma Head Coach Charity Elliott said. "We did not fold, we did not quit. We stayed focused and determined."

The Sea Lions were scorching from the field to start the game. Point Loma hit its first seven shots, including a pair of three's from guard Ellie Turk. The red-hot Sea Lions jumped out in front of Simon Fraser 18-5 halfway through the first quarter.

Down the stretch of the first period, Haylee Saurette caught fire as well, adding three buckets to extend Point Loma's lead to 27-12 before the quarter's end.

Saurette continued to build on the Sea Lions lead throughout the second quarter, finishing the half with 19 points including an impressive up and under to double Simon Fraser at 40-20.

After holding SFU to just 31% from the field in the first period, the opponents got going in the second period hitting 9 of their 15 shots in the quarter.

But Point Loma was equally as hot and rode four more three-pointers in the period thanks to Saurette, Izzy Turk and Allie Carreon and led at the half 51-31.

Simon Fraser continued their hot shooting in the second half and all but erased the Point Loma lead in the period, pulling within four. The Sea Lions staved off the run when a Cara Liggin's steal turned into an Ellie Turk layup.

Immediately after, Alix Henderson's steal setup a layup for Madison Williams, closing out the period with the Sea Lions up 64-56.

But Simon Fraser continued its stellar play, chipping away at the Point Loma lead throughout the fourth quarter. SFU went on a 19-10 run over the first nine minutes of the period to take its first lead since the opening minutes.

Annika Thayer played a crucial role in the final minute of the game, delivering the go-ahead bucket on a beautiful euro step in the paint to get the roll and put PLNU up 76-75.

The Sea Lions iced the game with some defensive stops and five free-throws to pull out the 81-75 victory.

Saurette led the Sea Lions with 21 points, while Ellie Turk added 16. Cara Liggins posted a double double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the win.

Henderson rounded out the Point Loma scorers in double figures with 10 points.

Point Loma will hit the road for the three-game Hawaii trip, beginning Thursday, December 2^nd at 6:30pm (PT).