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Hope International University

HIU WBB 2025-26 Nicole Chuang vs The Masters
Tommy Armendariz
67
Hope International HOPE INT 17-4, 10-1
70
Winner The Master's THE MAST 15-6, 11-1
Hope International HOPE INT
17-4, 10-1
67
Final
70
The Master's THE MAST
15-6, 11-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Hope International HOPE INT 14 16 14 18 5 67
The Master's THE MAST 20 16 17 9 8 70

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

OT Setback Drops Royals out of GSAC Top Spot

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – In a showdown between the top two women's basketball programs in the Great Southwest Athletic Conference, host The Master's prevailed 70-67 in overtime to wrest the top spot away from Hope International on Tuesday at the MacArthur Center.

The Royals had their school record 14-game winning streak halted in falling to 17-4 overall and 10-1 in the GSAC. The Mustangs took over first place by a half game over HIU, improving to 15-6 and 11-1 in conference play.

HIU fought back from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime tied at 62-62. But the Mustangs outscored the Royals 8-5 across the extra five minutes, as HIU hit just 2 of 8 shots in overtime.

The Mustangs corralled 27 offensive rebounds which led to a 20-shot difference in field goal attempts. HIU held the Mustangs to 32.6 (28 of 86) percent shooting, but struggled from the field as well after finishing at 33.3 (22 of 66) percent overall.

The Royals trailed for a majority of the game, earning their first and only lead at 3-2 as former TMU player Nicole Chuang knocked down a three-pointer. Izabella Forker answered with a three for TMU. Abbie Mullens hit a triple from beyond half court as the buzzer sounded, giving the Mustangs a 20-14 lead after one quarter.

TMU opened up a 10-point lead in the second period after Mullins drained another three. The Royals responded with a 13-5 run – getting a combined eight points off the bench from Trasara Alexander and Natalie Acuna – and cut the deficit to 32-30. The Mustangs scored a pair of baskets to grab a 36-30 lead at halftime.

Chuang got hot to start the third quarter, knocking down three triples to pull the Royals within 45-41 with 6:44 on the clock. Chuang had 11 of her game-high 19 points in the third, but TMU held a 53-44 lead going into the final 10 minutes.

Chloe Auble made a layup to give TMU its biggest lead at 55-44 to begin the fourth. The Royals began chipping away, as Acuna got fouled on a three-point attempt and hit all three free throws to pull HIU within 55-51. Amira Austin, who scored eight points in the fourth, made back-to-back buckets as HIU cut the deficit to 60-58 with 3:16 remaining.

Following an Alli VanKooten bucket, Chuang's two free throws made it 62-60 TMU. The Mustangs missed their next two shots, and Acuna tied the score at 62-62 with a jumper. VanKooten's game-winning attempt missed as the two teams went to overtime.

Mullins hit one of her game-high tying four threes to commence the OT period. Aliyah Gonzalez eventually tied the score at 67-67 with a triple, but Allie Miller answered with a layup for a one-point TMU lead.

The Royals missed their final three shots, and VanKooten made 1 of 2 free throws for the final points.

Austin finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. Gonzalez had 11 points and Acuna added 10.

Forker led all players with 19 points.

HIU stays on the road with a single game in Arizona, facing Benedictine Mesa on Saturday at 11:00 a.m.

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