Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A slow start left the Crusaders playing catch-up all night on the road against host Point Loma, a constant comeback effort that came up a bit short.

The Sea Lions forged a 10-point advantage in the first quarter, and though Northwest Nazarene managed to get within a possession in the fourth it never managed a lead, falling 80-67 in nonconference women's basketball Saturday night.

Point Loma (3-0 overall) took an 18-8 lead 5 minutes into the match-up, and pushed the margin to 28-17 in the second quarter before a late surge by the Crusaders before the break.

CoCo Gall's bucket with a half minute remaining before halftime cut the lead down to 33-29, but the Sea Lions responded with an Anna Viettry 3-pointer to close the session, then scored the first four points of the third quarter to re-establish an 11-point margin.

The difference grew to 55-42 early in the final quarter, but once again the Crusaders (1-3) made a determined charged, closing to 60-57 down on a pair of Lexi Tubbs free throws with 8 minutes to play.

Alex Brunk answered the Crusader push with a 3-ball, sparking a 13-6 run over the next five minutes that put Point Loma back on top by double digits as the Sea Lions held on for a Homecoming win.

Tubbs led the way for NNU with 12 points and eight rebounds, while freshman and Nampa High product Raquel Jardine had her biggest night as a collegiate player, scoring 11 points and grabbing seven boards for the Crusaders.

Taylor Simmons added in seven points and six assists for NNU, which is back in action on Friday, playing a post-Thanksgiving matinee at Westminster (Utah) at 2 p.m.