The Master's University women's basketball team lead by as much as 11 points in the first half, eight in the second half, but it was Arizona Christian that came from behind to win it 63-58 Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.
The Firestorm used two runs at the end of each half to get the win. ACU went on a 13-3 run in the final 5:34 of the first half to cut the Lady Mustangs lead to 31-30 at the half. And in the final 3:28 of the game and TMU leading by four, Arizona Christian closed out the game on a 12-3 run to get the five-point win.
It took 2:28 to get the scoring started in the first quarter when
Ella Brubaker made a pair of free throws for the first points of the game. TMU (12-6, 5-5 GSAC) lead by as much as 11 before ACU was able to close the gap at the end of the half. The Master's came out of the break strong, opening up their one-point halftime lead to eight in the first 2:44 of the third quarter. But again it was the Firestorm, using a five-player substitution throughout the game, that closed the period strong and finish the quarter up by one. That set up the dramatic surge in the final 10 minutes to win it for ACU.
The Master's shot just 30% from the field for the game, and only 1-of-23 from 3-point range. In the final quarter, the Lady Mustangs made just 4-of-19 shots. The bright spot for TMU was on the boards as they out-rebounded the Firestorm 62-42.
Brubaker finished with 24 points and
Lexi Hernandez collected her fifth double-double of the season, sinking 10 points and a team-high 16 rebounds.
Madeline Cooke pulled down 11 rebounds and added eight points.
The loss drops TMU into a tie for sixth place in the GSAC with ACU at 5-5.
The Arizona trip continues on Saturday when The Master's plays Ottawa (AZ) University in Surprise, Ariz. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific Time.
