Basketball season for the Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) Sea Lions came to an abrupt end last week when both the men’s and women’s teams were eliminated from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament.
The men were defeated 80-64 by Robert Morris University (Illinois) and the women were eclipsed 71-64 by Loyola University (Louisiana).
Despite the losses, members of both teams said they were pleased with their seasons and look forward to next year.
“We were very excited,” said PLNU men’s head coach Ethan Hamilton. “This is first time in 50 years we won a playoff game in the nationals and only the fourth time in the past 40 years [the team has made it as far as the first round of the nationals]. It is quite an accomplishment.”
Having won in the first round represented the first such victory since 1958. PLNU’s men have made as far as the first round ” but never beyond that point until this season ” in 1968, 1983, 2000 and 2003.
The women were also encouraged by their season, but their experience was more bittersweet after having such an outstanding regular season.
“It was a miraculous season in many ways,” said PLNU women’s assistant coach Alan Nakamura. “We had a great come-from-behind win in the conference finals. After the disappointment of the national tournament it gets lighter every day. We didn’t play our ‘A’ game against Loyola, while they brought their ‘A-plus’ game that night.”
The Sea Lions men’s team finished with a 24-10 overall record, 13-7 in the GSAC, and ended the season ranked No. 25 in the NAIA. The Sea Lions women’s streak of 23 wins was finally snapped by Loyola, leaving them to finish 29-3 after winning the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) regular season and tournament championships. The women finished ranked No. 3 in the NAIA.
“I feel very proud about this season because we really connected on the court,” said forward Angela Manjarrez, a senior.
Both teams were coming off opening-round playoff wins.
The men had to go to overtime to defeat Southern Nazarene (Oklahoma) 76-73 in Kansas City, while the women dominated Robert Morris 60-41 in Jackson, Tenn.
“It is going to be difficult to say goodbye to our five seniors (Manjarrez, Brittney Dove, Kati Hilbelink, Meghan McGuire and Kerra Sutton-Wodarski),” said Nakamura. “They had wonderful careers at Point Loma and did a good job living up to the tradition. We’ll work with recruiting and our returning players to keep things going for next year.”
Manjarrez said she especially enjoyed this season.
“I’m very proud that we were able to accomplish something that hasn’t been done in 16 years by winning the regular season conference title and the conference tournament,” said Manjarrez. “Regardless of what happened at the national tournament I am glad that we got there. I wouldn’t trade this season for anything. This was a fun year.”
Despite the disappointing playoff finish in the nationals, the PLNU basketball teams achieved a combined record of 53-13, along with regular-season and conference tournament championships and two post-season wins.
“The girls showed their fighting spirit all the way to the final horn,” said Nakamura. “In the competition of the national tournament every team is dangerous. Things are definitely looking up for Point Loma basketball,” Nakamura said.
Hamilton concurred.
“We are very excited about taking the next step and hope to build on this for next year,” he said.