GILBERT, Ariz. – Nicole Chuang scored a game-high 16 points and Natalie Acuna added 15 as Hope International moved into sole possession of first place in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference with a 78-65 road victory at Park Gilbert on Thursday.

The Royals moved to 21-4 overall and 14-1 in the GSAC, jumping one game ahead of The Master's in the standings. TMU lost at Benedictine Mesa on Thursday.

HIU can clinch the outright GSAC regular season title on Saturday with a win at OUAZ or a TMU loss at Park Gilbert.

Aliyah Gonzalez notched 14 points, while Amira Austin compiled a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.

HIU shot 38.2 (29 of 76) percent from the floor, sinking 11 three-pointers. The Buccaneers countered at 33.3 (23 of 69) percent and hit just 4 of 26 from distance.

Park Gilbert scored 22 points off of 20 HIU turnovers.

HIU outscored the Buccaneers 20-12 in the third quarter to lead 63-48 entering the final 10 minutes. The Royals used three-pointers from Jada Long and Chuang to build a 49-36 lead in the third. The Buccaneers managed just three points over the first six minutes, and HIU upped its cushion to 56-41 with 3:29 to play.

Park Gilbert shot just 4 of 20 in the third quarter.

Gonzalez and Chuang knocked down triples early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 69-51. Acuna drilled a three to open up HIU's biggest lead of 21 points, 72-51, and the Royals coasted to the 13-point triumph.

HIU travels to OUAZ for the regular season finale on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. (PT).