GLENDALE, Ariz. – Hope International women's basketball drained 13 three-pointers in a 67-61 road victory over Arizona Christian on Thursday at the Events Center.

The Royals improved to 12-3 overall with their ninth straight win, remaining undefeated in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference at 6-0. 

Senior Aliyah Gonzalez tied her career high with 23 points, sinking five triples and finishing 9 of 20 from the field overall. Dre Javier and Nicole Chuang both hit three triples and scored 13 and 11 points, respectively. HIU's 13 threes represented the second-most in a game this season, one off the season-high of 14 against Grace (Ind.) on December 17.

Amira Austin added eight points and grabbed 11 rebounds, her eighth straight game with double-digit caroms.

It was a clean game from a fouls standpoint, as only 16 were called all game. The Royals took just one free throw attempt, while the Firestorm finished 6 of 8 from the charity stripe.

Emily Till led the Firestorm with a team-high 22 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

After being tied at 33-33 going into halftime, the Royals used a balanced attack In the third quarter to outscore ACU 19-13 and take a six-point lead heading into the final 10 minutes. Six Royals scored in the third period, led by Gonzalez's five points.

The Royals engineered an 11-0 run early in the third to grab a 44-34 lead, as Chuang, Gonzalez and Angelina DeLeon splashed back-to-back-to-back triples.

HIU hit seven of its first 10 shots in the third quarter. Natalie Acuna, Javier and Austin sank three consecutive buckets, with Austin's giving the Royals a 50-39 lead with 4:01 to play.

ACU (6-12, 4-2 GSAC) scored seven of the final nine points in the period to narrow its deficit to 52-46.

But the Royals pushed their lead back to double digits, with an Acuna three and Chuang layup making the score 57-46. However, HIU went three and a half minutes without a point, allowing the Firestorm to whittle the deficit to 57-54 following an 8-0 run.

Addison Neal and Maggie Spencer canned triples during the run as the game turned close at the 5:00 minute mark. 

Gonzalez knocked down a huge trey to give the Royals a 62-56 lead with 2:33 remaining. After Neal responded with a three, Gonzalez answered with a jumper and another triple to go on a personal 8-0 run. The result was a 67-59 lea with 1:04 to go.

Gonzalez scored 10 of her 23 points in the fourth.

The Royals continue their roadtrip to Arizona with an 11:00 a.m. game on Saturday against Embry-Riddle.