No. 1 TMU women's basketball bounces back in big way

After a tough loss Thursday, Mustangs head coach Dan Waldeck told his players that they needed to work on their focus heading into their match against Life Pacific.

"We knew we didn't play well," he said. "We just didn't go out and play as hard as we needed to. We knew if we can control our effort better and focus better, we'd be playing where we need to be."

The members of The Master's University women's basketball team found their focus Saturday, securing a dominant 74-38 victory against the Life Pacific University Warriors in San Dimas, California. 

"We were locked in to what we were trying to accomplish," Waldeck said. "Our effort was on point."

Sophomore Stephanie Soares, who was recently named GSAC Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, led the Mustangs by scoring 18 points, making eight of the 10 shots she attempted in 25 minutes. 

Fellow starters Anika Neuman, Brooke Bailey and Hannah Ostrom would also go on to hit double-digits, earning 12, 11, and 10 points respectively for the Mustangs. The trio also contributed seven of the 12 3-pointers that The Master's University was able to hit.

Tristen Coltom contributed 11 points off the bench, making 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. 

"Tonight we let it fly a little better," Waldeck said.

After ending the first half ahead 43-18, the Mustangs (20-1, 8-1 GSAC) would go on to have its best quarter of the night in the third, scoring 24 points in an effort spear-headed by Coltom, who hit two 3-pointers within two minutes. 

With Vanguard losing earlier in the day to Hope International, Master's is now tied only with Westmont for first place in GSAC standings.

As the Mustangs look to continue their momentum in their return home against OUAZ on Thursday, Waldeck said their focus going forward will be on refinement.

"Right now it's about doing the little things better," Waldeck said. "That's the focus of practice this week."