(SAN DIEGO) Point Loma Women's Basketball dropped to a half-game behind Vanguard in the PacWest standings after VU defeated PLNU, 66-56, on Thursday night in Golden Gym.
 
The Sea Lions entered the day atop the conference standings with one more win than Vanguard and the same number of losses, but the Lions avenged their loss to PLNU in Costa Mesa back on Jan. 24.
 
Point Loma is now tied for second in the conference standings with Westmont in a crowded race for the PacWest title, with three games remaining in the regular season for PLNU and the top-four teams in the conference separated by a game or less.
 
Emma Sales beat the first quarter buzzer with a 3-pointer to give the Sea Lions a 14-13 lead after one, but Vanguard outscored Point Loma by nine in the second to take a 32-24 advantage into the locker room.
 
PLNU got to within three points late in the third before VU extended its lead to seven going into the fourth.
 
Ruby Vlahov made one of her four 3-pointers early in the final period to make it a four-point game, but the Lions responded with a 7-0 run and led by double digits the rest of the way.
 
Izzy Navarro paced the team with 16 points, seven assists and six steals, while Eiley Tippins scored 14 points and Vlahov added 12 for the Sea Lions, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
 
Point Loma (19-6 overall, 15-4 PacWest) hosts Concordia on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as part of Homecoming Weekend on campus.