(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women's Basketball will enter PacWest play on a two-game winning streak after beating a talented Cal State LA team, 71-68, on Wednesday night in the Sea Lions' final non-conference game.
Point Loma (4-4 overall) moves to .500 on the season, as
Alyssa Munn scored a PLNU career-high 15 points to lead all scorers, including going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
Four of those free throws came at the end of the first half, with an
Allie Carreon jumper in between, to give the Sea Lions a 33-30 lead into the locker room.
After a 6-0 Golden Eagles' run in the third gave the visitors a two-point advantage, the Sea Lions responded with 15-2 streak themselves, sparked by a couple baskets from
Shayla O'Neil, including a step-back triple.
Munn then went coast-to-coast at the end of the quarter to put Point Loma ahead by nine entering the fourth.
PLNU only made five 3-pointers in the game, but three of those came in the first five minutes of the final period, with Munn, O'Neil and Rowell all connecting from downtown.
Inside-out action from
Katie Scott created space for her turnaround jumper that then put PLNU ahead by double digits.
The Golden Eagles fought back to within four in the final minute before a critical steal from Munn got the ball back for the Sea Lions with 39 seconds to play. Munn then sank a pair of free throws at the other end to all but seal the victory, as Point Loma scored exactly 71 points for the second-straight game.
Rowell (14 points, 7 rebounds) and O'Neil (11 points) joined Munn in double figures, while
Ellie Turk (9 points, 5 assists) and Tippins (8 points) nearly made it five Sea Lions with double-digit scoring.
PLNU held CSULA to just 35.8% shooting in the victory, while forcing 15 turnovers, including eight steals from Munn.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
Point Loma opens up its PacWest schedule on Saturday at home against Concordia. Tip-off in Golden Gym is scheduled for 2 p.m.
