(SAN RAFAEL, Calif.) Top seed PLNU Women's Basketball closed the PacWest Championship on an 11-0 run to defeat third-seeded Dominican, 58-51, and win its first PacWest Tournament title in program history.
After previously claiming its first ever PacWest regular season crown, Point Loma added another program first by winning the conference tournament.
The Sea Lions outscored the Penguins in the fourth quarter, 20-11, silencing the home crowd of Dominican, the predetermined tournament host.
All-Tournament selection
Kaylee Byon (13 points) hit a go-ahead jumper with 1:26 remaining to put Point Loma ahead, 52-51, before she sank four straight free throws in the final minute to make it a two-possession game.
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
Alli McDonald (12 points, 12 rebounds) then made a pair at the charity stripe with one second left to put the finishing touches on a historic day for PLNU Women's Basketball.
All-Tournament selection
Hannah Golan (11 points) began the 11-0 Sea Lions streak to close the game, getting PLNU to within one before Byon's go-ahead jumper.
Golan led a second unit that outscored Dominican's 21-0 in the championship game.
DUC held PLNU scoreless for over five minutes to start the first quarter, before McDonald's triple got Point Loma on the board.
The Penguins then developed a 13-3 lead prior to Golan scoring the final four points of the first to cut the Sea Lions' deficit to six after one.
McDonald's 3-point play then made it a four-point game halfway through the second quarter, before Byon followed that up with an and-one of her to own to get PLNU to within one.
Jocelyn Pascual's corner triple with 2:19 remaining in the opening half gave the Sea Lions their first lead of the game, only for the Penguins to take a one-point lead going into the locker room.
A strong start to the third quarter put Point Loma back in front, but DUC answered right back with a 10-0 run to go up by seven, forcing PLNU to claw its way back.
PLNU only led for 4:46 of the 40 minutes, but held the lead when it mattered most to complete the PacWest regular season and tournament double.
With the win, Point Loma (25-5 overall) sets a new NCAA-era program record for wins and receives the PacWest's automatic berth into the NCAA West Regional.
PLNU, ranked No. 4 in this week's official regional rankings, is expected to receive its best ever seed in the regional and will make back-to-back regional appearances for the first time in program history.
The Sea Lions will hear their name called during Sunday night's Selection Show at 7:30 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
