(HILO, Hawaii) PLNU Women's Basketball overcame a five-point second quarter with a stellar second-half defensive display, helping Point Loma pick up a 56-51 road win over Hawaii Hilo on Tuesday night.
 
"Our defense won that game," Head Coach Charity Elliott said. "We struggled a little offensively but we just kept battling and getting stops."
 
After giving up 22 points in the second quarter, PLNU only allowed a combined 21 points after halftime on just 24% shooting, helping the Sea Lions outscore the Vulcans by 14 in the second half.
 
Point Loma trailed by three points with 1:25 to play but closed the game on an 8-0 run.
 
Ellie Turk drew a foul and made a pair of free throws before sinking the go-ahead basket with 25 seconds remaining.
 
The Sea Lions got a defensive stop on the other end, with the teams then trading turnovers on inbounds passes.
 
PLNU got fouled up by one and split a pair of free throws, before Madison Corder made what Elliott described as the play of the game, in collecting a crucial offensive rebound and sinking a pair from the charity stripe to make it a two-possession game with just 13 seconds left.
 
The visitors then came up with another defensive stop and made another free throw to seal the win for Point Loma (7-8 overall, 5-2 PacWest), its first road victory in PacWest play.
 
Turk led the Sea Lions with 17 points, while Haylee Saurette posted her sixth double-double of the season with her 15 points and 10 rebounds.
 
"Ellie's defense tonight was unbelievable and Haylee hit some big baskets for us," Elliott said. "It was a gutsy and tough win against a very scrappy and talented team."
 
PLNU continues its Hawaii road trip on Thursday at Hawaii Pacific. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PST / 4:30 p.m. HST.