(SAN DIEGO) It might've been Homecoming Weekend on campus, but it was
Tavia Rowell's night on Saturday.
Playing against her former team, Rowell joined the 1,000 Point Club and scored a game-high 17 points, including the game-winning basket in the final minute to lift PLNU Women's Basketball over Hawai'i Pacific, 60-56.
Rowell entered the game with 999 career points throughout her collegiate career that has included stops at Grand Canyon and HPU. She wasted no time eclipsing the 1,000 mark, doing so with a floater off the glass early in the first quarter.
Those were the only points Rowell would score in the first half, however, as PLNU still managed to lead 29-28 at the interval.
But when the Sea Lions fell behind by as many as nine early in the fourth quarter, they turned to Rowell, who scored 11 points in the final period alone.
A pair of free throws from the junior guard gave Point Loma its first lead of the fourth with 1:50 remaining in regulation.
After the teams traded buckets, Rowell then converted the go-ahead basket with 29 seconds left to play, before Point Loma held Hawai'i Pacific scoreless the rest of the way.
PLNU doubled up on HPU in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sharks 20-10, to overturn the visitors' 7-0 run to end the third.
Eiley Tippins posted her second-straight double-double, finishing with 10 points and 12 rebounds. She added three blocks, as the Sea Lions held the Sharks to just 33.3% shooting on the night.
Ellie Turk scored 11 points to join Rowell and Tippins in double figures.
Katie Scott tallied eight points and six rebounds off the bench.
With the win, Point Loma (15-10 overall, 11-6 PacWest) remains in third place in the PacWest standings with three regular season games to play.
PLNU returns to Golden Gym on Wednesday to host Westmont on Senior Night. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW
