PLNU Athletics

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) PLNU Women's Basketball held a five-point lead after the first quarter against Cal State San Bernardino on Friday night, but the Yotes outscored the Sea Lions by 23 points the rest of the way to hand Point Loma an 81-63 season-opening defeat.
 
"Unfortunately, we didn't play with urgency tonight and let San Bernardino get tremendous momentum and they did a good job of keeping it most of the game," Head Coach Charity Elliott said. "
 
PLNU led by as many as nine in the first quarter after a pair of Maddie Mersch free throws put Point Loma ahead 18-9, but CSUSB was able to get to within five with a couple baskets before the quarter closed.
 
The Sea Lions made two 3-pointers in the opening quarter, but shot a combined 0-10 after that. Meanwhile, the Yotes shot 55.6% from behind the arc overall and made five-of-six triples in the second period, as they outscored PLNU 23-10 in the second quarter to take an eight-point halftime advantage.
 
The two teams played an even third quarter before the Yotes' offense exploded in the fourth quarter, shooting 71.4% and scoring 28 points to put the game away.
 
Haylee Saurette led Point Loma with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while she was joined in double figures by Ellie Turk (11 points).
 
Madison Corder (eight points, five rebounds) and Shayla O'Neil (eight points, three rebounds) nearly made it four Sea Lions to score double-digit points.
 
"I thought Maddie Mersch, Shayla, MC and Kate Bobadilla gave us some great minutes tonight," Elliott said. "We have to try to bounce back and get ready for another quality opponent in Pomona."
 
Point Loma will look for its first win of the new season against Cal Poly Pomona on Saturday at 1 p.m. in San Bernardino, as the Sea Lions finish up their participation in the PacWest/CCAA Conference Challenge.