SAN DIEGO, Calif.--Visiting Hawai`i Hilo fought back from a 19-point deficit to pull within five points in the fourth quarter, but host Point Loma hit 12 of 13 free throws in the final three minutes to pull away for a 87-72 women's basketball win on Thursday night at Golden Gymnasium.

The victory improves the surging Sea Lions' record to 13-5 in the Pacific West Conference and to 14-10 overall. The Vulcans are now 7-14 on the season and 4-13 in the PacWest.

The Vulcans tied a season-high with 11 three-pointers to help fuel their comeback (11-for-30). Mandi Kawaha had 17 points to lead the Vulcans, hitting four-of-six from long range. Alyssa Movchan and Allie Navarette were also in double figures with 12 points each. Navarette added 11 rebounds to record her 12th double-double of the season.

The Sea Lions, who have now won eight games in a row, burst out of the gates to pin the Vulcans back early. Nearly seven minutes into the game, Point Loma had a 18-4 lead before Malia Lee's three-pointer stopped the early bleeding a minute later. At the end of the first quarter, Point Loma led 23-10. 

In the second period, PLNU pushed their lead out to 19 points (41-22) with 32 seconds left before Movchan's trey right before the end of the half sent teams into intermission with a 41-25 Point Loma lead. The third quarter was played evenly (64-50) before the Vulcans made their move in the fourth. 

UH Hilo still trailed by 14 points with 7:35 remaining (66-52). But back-to-back baskets by Movchan, including a three, helped jump-start a 9-0 run that pulled the visitors to within five points (66-61) with 4:51 left. But Kawaha's basket was the end of the run for UHH. The freshman would hit a trey with 2:54 left to keep it within reach (73-66), but the Sea Lions then went to work at the free throw line missing only one free throw in 13 attempts in the final three minutes. 

Point Loma's Sydney Peterson hit a handful off those charity tosses and finished with 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Cara Liggins added 19 points for PLNU and Carol Schroeder had a double-double with 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. The Sea Lions hit a very efficient 10 of 17 from behind the arch.

Sara Shimizu had nine points for UH Hilo, and Amber Vaughn added eight. The Vulcans had only 10 turnovers on the night.

Next up on this four-game southern California tour is a Saturday night (5:30 pm) game in Irvine against Concordia.