No. 11 TMU Women's Basketball trailed after the first quarter, but the Mustangs reverted back to their game plan to defeat Arizona Christian University on the road, 76-68.
"We got away from our game plan in the first half and tried trading 3-point attempts with them," Master's Head Coach Lisa Zamroz said. "We came out of the half with a better focus to get the ball going inside out."
Master's trailed, 17-20, after the opening quarter before outscoring ACU 14-8 in the second stanza to take a three-point halftime lead.
Three-pointers by Rebekah Throns and Allyson Pettit and two jumpers from Stephanie Soares (15 points in the third quarter) helped TMU go on a 10-2 run to start the second half, extending the Mustangs' lead to double digits.
Master's then led by as many as 13 before taking a seven-point advantage into the final quarter.
The Firestorm scored the first five points of the fourth to get to within two before another Soares bucket ensured ACU wouldn't get any closer.
Throns then made two more crucial triples, helping the Mustangs build a double-digit once again.
"Our upperclassmen were huge in the second half," Zamroz said.
Ella Brubaker scored six of her nine total points in the fourth quarter, while Giani Wimbish-Gay scored four of her six in the final period, helping Master's withstand a Firestorm comeback bid.
"It was a physical game but we were able to execute and hit big shots when we needed them," Zamroz said.
Soares recorded her ninth straight double-double with a dominant line with her 30 points and 14 rebounds. Throns finished with 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds.
Master's (9-0 overall, 3-0 GSAC) returns home to take on Hope International on Thursday inside The MacArthur Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
