Point Loma Wins Conference Opener

Outrebounding an opponent for the first time this season, the Point Loma Nazarene men’s basketball team defeated Azusa Pacific, 117-96, at Azusa to open Golden State Athletic Conference play.

PLNC, which starts a front line of 6-foot 4-inch Mark Ryan, 6-3 Kevin Barbarick and 6-2 Mark Bulgin, had a 43-36 rebounding advantage.

Brian Thurston led PLNC (3-11, 1-0) with 34 points, Bulgin had 27 points and 8 rebounds, Barbarick had 16 points and 10 rebounds and Ryan had 23 points.

Michael Benton’s 23 points led Azusa (0-1, 6-10).

Christian Heritage College is ranked first in the latest National Christian Collegiate Athletic Assn. poll. Coached by Swen Nater and Ray Slagle, the Hawks were 13-2 heading into Tuesday’s late game at Hawaii Hilo. Southern California College is ranked second.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

San Diego State guard Julie Evans, the team’s second-leading scorer, suffered a severely sprained left ankle in practice Monday and is not expected to play in this week’s games.

The 16th-ranked Aztecs (12-0) will play host to San Jose State Thursday and Fresno State Saturday in Big West Conference play at Peterson Gym. Both games tip off at 7:30 p.m.

Point Loma Nazerene lost the Golden State Athletic Conference opener to Azusa Pacific, 74-73, in overtime. Point Loma Nazerene led, 29-25, at halftime but the lead changed hands 14 times in the second half, which ended in a 63-63 tie. Amy Walter, the game’s leading scorer (32 points), hit a jump shot from the middle of the key with 4 seconds remaining in overtime to push Azusa ahead. Camille Armigo (23) and Shannon Anderson (17) led Point Loma Nazarene.

UCSD (8-4) jumped to a 12-2 lead en route to its 81-49 victory over Whittier (3-9). Michele Leohner (14), Tracy Ragatz (12), and Jill Coster (12) led UCSD in scoring. UCSD also had a 56-36 rebounding advantage.

Dawn Krinklaw made two free throws with a minute left to push U.S. International University ahead of UC Riverside, 79-77, and Sonya Carter hit one of two free throws to secure USIU’s 80-77 victory at the Larry Lawrence Jewish Community Center. Carter scored 33 points and Vanessa Johnson 15 for USIU (4-11), which had a 10-game losing streak before winning two of the past three games.