(BELMONT, Calif.) PLNU Women's Basketball picked up a crucial 59-46 road win over Academy of Art on Saturday afternoon, as the Sea Lions further cemented its top-six place in the conference standings in pursuit of a PacWest Tournament bid.
 
With the win Point Loma snapped its three-game losing streak, which all came against the top-three teams in the conference and by 10 or fewer points, and opened up a two-and-a-half game lead for the sixth seed in the PacWest.

"It was a true team win," Head Coach Charity Elliott said. "Everyone who came in kept up the defensive energy and did their part. I'm really happy for this group."
 
PLNU overcame the toughest portion of its conference schedule by holding their opponents to under 50 points for the third time this season. The Sea Lions limited the Urban Knights to just 32.2% shooting and 21.7% from behind the arc.
 
It was ART U that came out of the gates quickly, however, with the hosts jumping out to a 15-6 lead after one.
 
But Point Loma bounced back by holding Academy of Art to single-digit points in the second and third quarters to overturn its nine-point deficit following the first period.

"We definitely got off to a slow start but in the second quarter we were able to create some easy baskets off of our defense," Elliott said.
 
The Sea Lions trailed by one at the half before blitzing the Urban Knights to start the third quarter with an 8-0 run.
 
Then with Point Loma leading by four, 33-29, Alix Henderson's fastbreak layup sparked a streak of nine-straight Sea Lion points that gave PLNU its first double-digit advantage.
 
An Annika Thayer jumper early in the fourth quarter extended Point Loma's lead to 18, its largest of the game, before the Sea Lions closed out an eventual 13-point victory.
 
Haylee Saurette recorded her seventh double-double of the season, leading PLNU in both points (15) and rebounds (12).
 
Allie Carreon joined her in double figures with her 12 points, while Ellie Turk added eight of her own. Shayla O'Neil (six points, eight boards) provided a spark off the bench, as did Thayer (six points, two blocks) who was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field.

"Haylee did a great job at both ends and sparked our comeback," Elliott said. "I thought Shay and Ellie also made huge contributions, particularly on the boards and defensively."
 
Point Loma (9-12 overall, 7-6 PacWest) returns home to Golden Gym on Wednesday to host Chaminade. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.