Claremont, Calif. - Pomona-Pitzer College (1-7) scored 11 consecutive points at the beginning of a 24-9 run over a span of nearly 10 minutes in the second half and took a 15-point lead enroute to an 89-73 victory over Arizona Christian University (3-8), Friday, Dec. 9, in Voelkel Gymnasium in Claremont, Calif. The Sagehens won for the first time this season and avenged its 103-83 loss to ACU from Nov. 25, and held the Firestorm to 30 fewer points. 

ACU women's basketball, coached by Jerry Conner, continues its three-game swing through southern California with a game at Claremont-Mudd Scripps College, Saturday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. Arizona time., and a Monday, Dec. 12 game at California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, at 8 p.m. Arizona time. 

Three Pomona-Pitzer players scored 20 or more points with sophomore guard Emi Hashizume leading the way with 24 points, 12 in each half, made 9 of 21 shots, 4 of 5 free throws and 2 three-pointers, and had 2 steals, and senior guard Asha Gipson recorded season highs of 23 points, 15 in the second half, 15 rebounds and 7 steals, and passed 4 assists. Gipson made 8 of her 13 shots and 7 of 8 free throws. 6-foot-2 freshman center Maria Weyhrauch finished with 20 points, 13 in the first half, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals, and hit 8 of her 13 shots and all four of her free throws. Freshman guard Ruthie Shapiro added 6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocked shots and 3 steals. 

Freshman forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) tied a season high with 22 points, 12 in the second half, and 11 rebounds, five off the offensive glass, and recorded her fourth double double of the season. Hock made 11 of her 14 shots and also had 2 steals and 3 steals. Junior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian School) contributed a season-high 16 points, 14 in the second half, 3 three-pointers, 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 steals, and senior guard Anne Munsil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) added 11 points, one three-pointer, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. 

Senior guard Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana H.S.), the leading scorer in both the NAIA Division II and the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) Division I with a 24.9 point average going into the contest, totaled just 14 points, 12 in the first half, on 5 of 19 shooting and had 2 three-pointers, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, one blocked shot and 2 steals. Freshman forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) finished with just 2 points but gathered 8 rebounds and had one steal, and junior guard Jessica Smith (Mesa, Ariz./Home Schooled) added 5 rebounds and an assist. 

A 19-6 run over a span of nearly six minutes put ACU ahead, 25-17, with 9:25 left in the first half, its widest lead of the first half, with Hock scoring eight of the Firestorm's points during the run. However, the Sagehens countered with nine consecutive points, eight by Hashizume, and led briefly 26-25 with 7:48 left before intermission. The Firestorm scored eight consecutive points, five by Liscum, and ACU led 33-26 with 6:40 left. Pomona closed the half with a 19-6 run and led 45-39 going into the halftime locker room. 

After ACU rallied to tie the game at 46-46 with 17:51 left in the game, Pomona-Pitzer countered with 11 consecutive points at the beginning of a 24-9 run over the next 9:46 and claimed a 15- point lead, 70-55, with 8:05 remaining. The Sagehens built the lead to as many as 19 points, 79- 60, with 5:14 left. ACU cut the lead down to 12 points, 83-71, with 1:27 left to play, but drew no closer.