FULLERTON – Senior Aliyah Gonzalez poured in a career-high 23 points to spark the Hope International women's basketball team to a 67-57 win over Life Pacific in Great Southwest Athletic Conference action on Saturday from Darling Pavilion.
Gonzalez added a season-high nine boards – part of a huge 50-25 rebounding advantage for the Royals – as HIU extended its winning streak to six straight.
Senior Amira Austin posted her fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. It was her fifth straight game with 10 or more caroms. She also tied her season high with four assists.
Natalie Acuna notched eight points, hitting a pair of three-pointers in her second start of the season.
HIU's rebounding brigade led to a 24-2 edge in second chance points. The Royals pulled down 19 offensive rebounds.
HIU outscored the Warriors 22-10 in the second quarter to build a 38-30 lead at halftime. The Royals trailed 25-18 when they embarked on a 15-3 run, jumpstarted by a Jada Long three-pointer. Gonzalez also had six points during the run.
The run eventually ballooned to 20-5 as Gonzalez's three put the Royals up by eight at the break.
Life Pacific cut the deficit to five at the end of three quarters as HIU struggled from the field, going 5 of 18 overall and 1 of 8 from three-point range.
But the Royals started the fourth period auspiciously as Nicole Chuang sank a triple and got fouled on the play, converting the free throw for the four-point play. HIU scored eight straight points to open up a 57-45 lead.
The Warriors went without a field goal the first four minutes of the final period, and shot just 4 of 16 in the quarter.
HIU held a 65-49 lead with just over two minutes remaining. The Warriors tried to muster a late comeback, reeling off eight straight points to pull within 65-57, but by then the Royals had emptied their bench and coasted to victory.
HIU is now 9-3 overall and 3-0 in GSAC play. Life Pacific fell to 9-4 and 1-2 in conference action.
The Royals return to GSAC action on Tuesday, January 6 against The Master's, with tip time from Darling Pavilion scheduled for 5:30 p.m.