FULLERTON – Hope International women's basketball held visiting La Sierra to 22 percent shooting and coasted to a 65-37 victory, improving to 9-0 in Great Southwest Athletic Conference play on Tuesday at Darling Pavilion.
The Golden Eagles shot 0 of 17 from three-point range. HIU's last two opponents have made a combined 1 of 43 from distance.
The Royals won their school record 13th straight game in moving to 16-3 overall.
After building a 28-point halftime lead in Saturday's victory over Park Gilbert, the Royals dashed any hopes of a tight game as they outscored the Golden Eagles 22-5 through one quarter and led 42-13 at halftime.
HIU shot 50 percent (14 of 28) in the first half and 9 of 16 from distance, with six different players canning at least one three.
Aliyah Gonzalez scored 11 of her game-high 13 points in the first half and Nicole Chuang recorded all 11 of her points in the second quarter to lead the Royals.
Senior Amira Austin registered a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double – her ninth of the season – hitting 6 of 9 floor shots and adding a block and two steals.
Fresh off her receiving her first career GSAC Defensive Player of the Week honor, Angelina De Leon corralled a career-high 11 rebounds with eight coming on the defensive end.
The Royals sprinted to an 11-0 lead just two minutes and 16 seconds into the game, hitting their first four shots including three from deep by Gonzalez, Dre Javier and De Leon.
La Sierra recorded its lone field goal – a layup by Akilah Watson – at the 6:56 mark. The Royals got three-pointers from Jamelia Coleman and Jada Long to exit the first quarter with a 17-point cushion. HIU finished the first period 6 of 10 from distance.
HIU had its first 20-point lead as Gonzalez knocked down another triple, giving the Royals a 25-5 advantage. HIU ultimately scored 16 consecutive points, as Chuang sank a triple, got fouled and completed the four-point play for a 33-5 lead.
Chuang completed her own personal 11-0 run with another three-pointer and a layup as HIU led 38-9 with just under five minutes to go until halftime.
Trasara Alexander made her season debut, entering with three and a half minutes remaining and immediately hit two free throws. The guard played nine minutes, finishing with two points and two rebounds.
The largest lead for the Royals was 35 points in the third quarter. HIU emptied its bench in the fourth period with the game well in hand. Caylie Villagrana made her first triple of the season late in the fourth quarter.
HIU has held its last two opponents under 40 points.
The Royals play five of their last seven regular season games on the road, beginning a three-game roadtrip on Thursday at Life Pacific. Tipoff is slated for 5:30 p.m.
