(HONOLULU) PLNU Women's Basketball finished its three-game trip to Hawaii on a positive note, defeating Chaminade on Saturday by a score of 75-48.
 
After scoring just three points in the first quarter of Thursday's loss to Hawaii Pacific, the Sea Lions scored 23 in the opening period against the Silverswords.
 
PLNU also scored more points in the first half (44) than it managed in the entirety of Thursday's defeat, and more than it has scored in any half this season.
 
"I'm so proud of our bounce back today," Head Coach Charity Elliott said. "We came out very focused and locked in on what we wanted to do."
 
Point Loma posted its highest-scoring output of the season despite just making a pair of 3-pointers, both coming in the first half.
 
Throughout the game, the Sea Lions turned defense into offense, forcing 28 Silversword turnovers and converting those into 27 points.
 
PLNU also dominated the low post with a 44-24 advantage in points in the paint and a plus-15 rebounding margin.
 
"I thought our defense allowed us to get some easy baskets in transition and we controlled the boards," Elliott said.
 
Maddie Mersch led the Sea Lions with a career-high 14 points, while coming one rebound shy of a double-double.
 
"Maddie Mersch had a great game on both ends," Elliott said. "It was nice to get our freshmen some good minutes today, as that experience will help us down the road."
 
Allie Carreon (nine points, six rebounds) and Ellie Turk (nine points, five rebounds) nearly joined Mersch in double figures, while Kylie Hearn (seven points, five rebounds) led PLNU's second unit that outscored CUH's, 29-13.
 
Point Loma (8-9 overall, 6-3 PacWest) now returns home for the first time in 2023, with PLNU set to take on preseason PacWest favorite and defending conference champion Azusa Pacific (12-3, 7-1) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Golden Gym.
 
"We're so glad to be heading home after that kind of win," Elliott said.