(IRVINE, Calif.) In consecutive games against the top-two teams in the PacWest Conference, PLNU Women's Basketball has shown that it is close to a breakthrough under Head Coach Charity Elliott.
 
After a narrow defeat to (RV) Azusa Pacific on Wednesday, Point Loma threatened an upset of Concordia on Saturday before the Golden Eagles prevailed by a final score of 83-74.
 
CUI, ranked eighth in the West Region in the latest D2SIDA Media Poll and now in solo first place in the conference, led by as many as eight in the first quarter, only for PLNU to go on a 7-0 run to get to within one.
 
The hosts then held a three-point advantage after the first before the Sea Lions outscored the Golden Eagles 13-4 to start the second quarter and take their largest lead of the game, 29-23.
 
However, that lead was short-lived as CUI responded by scoring the next seven points to regain its advantage. Ellie Turk's layup with eight seconds remaining in the second period tied the game, only for Concordia to hit a jumper with just a second to spare to put the Golden Eagles up by a pair at the half.
 
Allie Carreon, who made all five of Point Loma's 3-pointers, drained a shot from behind the arc early in the third quarter to bring PLNU back to within one.
 
A 3-point play from Eiley Tippins later made it a one-point game again at the 4:39 mark in the third, before Concordia closed the quarter on an 8-2 run to lead by seven entering the fourth.
 
Turk's basket to start the scoring in the final period made it a two-possession game, 60-55, but that was as close as the Sea Lions would get the rest of the way, with the Golden Eagles winning by a nine-point margin.
 
PLNU held advantages in points in the paint (40-32) and points off turnovers (30-18), but what proved to be the difference was CUI's ability to get out in transition, with Concordia holding a 17-1 margin in fastbreak points.
 
Carreon led four Sea Lions in double figures with 18 points. Turk (15 points), Haylee Saurette (12 points) and Tippins (10 points, seven rebounds) also scored double-digit points.
 
Point Loma (8-11 overall, 6-5 PacWest) continue its three-game road trip next week, beginning against Dominican on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.