Friday, March 13, 2015

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Roya Rustamzada made a layup with two seconds left on the clock as the eight-seed Point Loma Nazarene pulled out a remarkable 64-63 victory over host Alaska Anchorage in the West Region quarterfinals Friday night.

Point Loma, which made its first NCAA appearance tonight, will play the top remaining seed, No. 5 Cal Baptist, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Alaskan in the regional semifinals.

Finishing off a day where the lower seeds beat the upper seeds in every regional game, the Sealions hit nine three-pointers while UAA shot 32.9 percent from the field.

Point Loma controlled much of the game, but a second half surge from the host Seawolves erased a 19-point advantage. UAA’s first lead came with nine seconds on the clock, but the Sealions drove the length of the court for the game-winner.

The Sealions were led by Madison West who scored 17 points on 7-13 shooting, including three three-pointers. Jessica Escorza also added 13 points.

Megan Mullings and Jenna Buchanan led the Seawolves with 12 points each.

The Sealions hit five of their first eight shots, including three from beyond the arc, to take an early 14-0 lead. UAA’s Kiki Robertson hit a three to end the scoreless streak, but Point Loma responded with two more three-pointers.

By the end of the first half, the Seawolves were down 36-24. Nothing would fall for the Seawolves in the half, shooting a mere 23.7 percent while the Sealions made 51.9 percent of their shots including seven from three-point land.

There was an immediate change of momentum to start the second. Alysha Devine scored six of UAA’s first eight points to begin the half helping cut-down the Sealions lead to single-digits.

UAA came within five points of Point Loma, but the eight-seed came back with a 10-2 run pushing its lead back to double-figures.

The first-half shooting woes of Alaska Anchorage returned midway through the half as the Seawolves went almost five minutes without a basket.

A Robertson steal and an Alli Madison layup sparked an 13-6 run that saw the Seawolves hit three of their four total three-pointers in the last four minutes of regulation.

After a layup and free throws from Point Loma, Megan Mullings stole the ball with 1:20 to go and made a layup to pull within four. The Seawolves forced another turnover the next possession and Kiki Wright converted to make the score 62-60.

Another turnover gave the Seawolves a chance for the equalizer and instead Jenna Buchanan nailed a three to give the Seawolves their first lead of the game with 9.1 seconds to go.

On the ensuing possession, the Sealions drove the length of the court as Rustamzada scored what turned out to be the game-winner on a layup from the right side of the key.

A half-court shot from by the Seawolves was off the mark as Alaska Anchorage finished their season 29-2.