COSTA MESA, Calif. – Point Loma’s basketball team (14-4, 10-2 PacWest) continued its surge through the PacWest Conference on Saturday afternoon, edging Vanguard (12-4, 8-3 PacWest) 59-57 in a battle between the conference’s top two teams in Costa Mesa.
The win marked Point Loma’s sixth straight victory and carried major implications in the conference race. Entering the game, Vanguard sat atop the PacWest standings with PLNU a close second. By the final buzzer, the Sea Lions had sole possession of first place, while handing the Lions a costly loss that sent them tumbling down the standings.
From the opening tip, the matchup lived up to the expectations. The lead changed nine times and neither team led by more than a handful of possessions throughout the afternoon. PLNU held a slight 12-9 edge after the first quarter before Vanguard answered with a stronger second period, sending the game into halftime tied at 26.
The Sea Lions began to create separation in the third, shooting nearly 47% from the field. Vanguard kept pace behind Kaylee Byon’s game-high 25 points, trimming the deficit to one by the end of the period. However, Point Loma refused to let the momentum swing fully the other way.
The fourth quarter turned into a defensive grind, and that’s where Point Loma made its statement.
After Byon’s layup with about 5 minutes remaining in the game to give the Vanguard team a 52-51 lead, the Lions’ offense went cold at the worst possible time. Vanguard did not score a field goal for more than five minutes, managing only free throws as PLNU locked in defensively and controlled the tempo late.
During the stretch, Eiley Tippins delivered in the paint and on the break, while Maddie Mersch’s layup and Tippins’ tip-in pushed the Sea Lions ahead for good. Hannah Golan sealed the win at the free throw line in the final minutes, and despite a late basket and free throw from Vanguard in the closing seconds, Point Loma held on for the two-point victory.
Tippins led the Sea Lions with 20 points and six rebounds, while Golan added 14 points and nine boards in a well-rounded performance. Maddie Morrow chipprf in nine points, knocking down three triples to stretch Vanguard’s defense at key moments.
The result capped a statement weekend for PLNU, as the Sea Lions not only extended their winning streak to six games but also proved they can win tight, physical contests against the PacWest’s best. The result sent a clear message that the road to the PacWest title now runs through Point Loma.
The Sea Lions are back home on Jan. 29 at 5:30 p.m. against Chaminade. Buy tickets here or watch on the PacWest Network.
