(AZUSA, Calif.) "Who has it better than us? Nobody has it better than us."
 
That's what PLNU Women's Basketball Head Coach Charity Elliott said despite a season-ending 82-61 loss for seventh-seeded Point Loma against second-seeded Cal State San Marcos in the first round of the NCAA West Regional on Friday afternoon.
 
"For our program this was a big step," Elliott said. "Now we know what this tournament is like. We know the intensity, we know what it requires, and that's how we prepare for the future."
 
Point Loma (18-13 overall) improved its win total from last year just as it has done in all three of Elliott's seasons as head coach. The Sea Lions also reached the PacWest Tournament semifinals for the third-straight year.
 
"It's a process," Elliott said. "We've talked about it from day one when we got here. This was a huge step for our program. What it took to get here was a lot of work, a lot of effort and a lot of resiliency by our entire group.
 
"They rose to the occasion time after time after time. There's nothing but pride and gratitude for their efforts and the way they love each other, the way they've been selfless and team-first all year long. It was a day of gratitude for us."
 
Making its third-ever NCAA West Regional appearance and first since 2016-17, PLNU started strongly, winning the opening tip before Tavia Rowell confidently drained a jumpshot.
 
After a 7-0 CSUSM run, Shayla O'Neil's 3-pointer got Point Loma to within two, only for the Cougars to score 12 of the final 16 points of the first quarter to lead by double digits.
 

Tavia Rowell cuts @PLNU_WBB's deficit to single digits.

🎥 @APUCougars pic.twitter.com/QvtDlkKY2l

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) March 15, 2024

 
Then in the second quarter, Katie Scott scored immediately out of the media timeout to get PLNU to within seven, but CSUSM closed out the half on a 12-0 run over the final 4:19 to take a 47-28 advantage into the locker room.
 

Katie Scott scores immediately out of the media timeout for @PLNU_WBB.

🎥 @APUCougars pic.twitter.com/9okhILpzLW

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) March 15, 2024

 
As the Sea Lions attempted a second-half comeback, it was two freshmen in Hannah Golan and Elle Hanson who stepped up offensively.
 
"I thought our two freshmen were amazing today," Elliott said. "That speaks about the future of our program and where we're going."
 

Hannah Golan and @PLNU_WBB trying to make a comeback in the second half.

🎥 @APUCougars pic.twitter.com/ztOBVhgd49

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) March 15, 2024

 
Golan and Hanson each scored 11 points, just behind Rowell's team-high 14.
 
"Our future is very bright and we're very excited about the ones returning," Elliott said. "Making it to the NCAA Tournament is a huge next step and it shows where this program is going and where it's headed. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?"

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE