SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Going back to the NAIA days, Golden Gymnasium on the Point Loma campus has long been among the most difficult road trips on the Cougars' schedule.  Wednesday's visit was no exception, as the Cougars dropped a heartbreaker to the Sea Lions, 66-64, allowing Point Loma to regain first place in the conference standings.

How It Happened:  Between Kelly Heimburger and Elyse Mitchell, the Cougars made three of their first four long-distance shots in the contest and built an early 13-6 lead after four minutes.  But in what would prove to be a fateful stat this evening, that would be it for the Cougars from beyond the arc, as they missed their final 14 attempts from three-point range in the contest.  Point Loma would cut the deficit to three points by the end of the quarter at 17-14.

The Sea Lions took the lead courtesy of a 12-4 run in the middle of the second quarter, and though the Cougars rallied to tie the score twice before halftime, the home team would hold a narrow 36-35 lead at the break.  The third quarter was back-and-forth, with neither side leading by more than four points at any time.  When Mitchell scored her first points since that early three, she gave the Cougars a brief 52-51 lead with a minute left in the third.  Point Loma would retake the advantage heading into the fourth.

Point Loma took control of the game with an 8-1 run to open the fourth, earning their largest lead of the game at 61-54 with about seven and a half minutes to play.  The Cougars chipped away at the deficit while holding the Sea Lions without a point from the field over the final five minutes, and when Audrey Sayoc drove in for a layup with three minutes to play, the Cougars found themselves down by only a single point.  But the Sea Lions' defense stiffened, forcing four consecutive turnovers and running the clock down to 13 seconds in the process.  Heimburger was able to get a decent look from the top of the key, but it was off-line and the clock expired before any second attempt could be tried.

By the Numbers:  Heimburger finished the game with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 steals.  Joining her in double figures were Amayah Kirkman with 12 points, and Sayoc with 11 points and 7 rebounds.  While the Cougars were +3 in the turnover battle, the Sea Lions actually converted their chances into more points, 16-11.  The loss snapped a 10-game win streak against Point Loma, and the Sea Lions lead the series in San Diego, 26-24, though the Cougars lead the overall matchup 71-41.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (17-3, 11-2 PacWest) will wrap up this three-game road trip with their first Cornerstone Cup matchup of the season as they visit Biola on Saturday evening.  Tipoff in Chase Gymnasium is set for 5:30 p.m.