March 20, 2008

JACKSON, Tenn. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University used a 42-point second half to post a 60-41 win over No. 8 seed Robert Morris (Ill.) College.  Of the four No. 1 seeds, Point Loma Nazarene joins Union (Tenn.) and Lee (Tenn.) as the three top seeds to advance to the second round.  Oklahoma City was the only 1-seed to fall in round one.

 

After a very low scoring first half for both teams, Point Loma Nazarene (29-2) outscored Robert Morris 42-26 in the second half to pull away for the win.

                                                       

Point Loma Nazarene had just two players in double figures, Kerra Sutton-Wodarski and Angela Manjarrez with 11 and 10 points respectively.  However, 11 of the Sea Lion players broke into the scoring column. 

 

The first half proved to be a poor shooting exhibition from both teams.  Point Loma Nazarene shot just 18-percent from the field and made just one three pointer, while Robert Morris didn't fair much better with 24-percent from the field and 0-of-7 from three-point range. 

 

The tournament record for fewest points in a game is 31, held by Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) from 1998.  The record for fewest combined points in a game is 85, set back in 2004.  Both records were in jeopardy as the halftime score was just 18-15, in favor of the Sea Lions.

 

In the second half, Point Loma Nazarene found the offense that helped them earn their No. 1 seed as the Sea Lions began to build a lead.  Over the first 11 minutes of the second half, Point Loma Nazarene outscored Robert Morris 31-7 to take a 27-point advantage, 49-22.  Point Loma Nazarene held a 27-point lead once more, 56-29, with 3:57 left in the game before coasting to the 60-41 final.  Robert Morris passed the 31-point mark to avoid the record low in point with a three pointer from Tonesha Members with 3:43 left in the game.

 

Robert Morris, who ends their season with a 19-14 record, was led by Jessica Harris with a game-high 16 points and 10 rebounds.  Jerita Gordon added 10 points for the Eagles. 

 

NAIA

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