Denver, Colo. - Johnson and Wales University (10-12, 2-3 A.I.I.) led 51-45 at halftime and outscored Arizona Christian University (7-14, 3-2 A.I.I.), 26-5, in the first 7:46 of the second half of its 103-70 Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) women's basketball victory over the Firestorm, Friday, Jan. 20, at Wildcat Gymnasium in Denver, Colorado. JWU ended its seven-game losing streak and ended ACU's three-game winning streak. 

Coached by Jerry Conner, ACU looks to take home a A.I.I. victory when it meets Northern New Mexico (2-14; 0-3 A.I.I.), Saturday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m., at Wildcat Gym at Johnson and Wales University in Denver. ACU defeated NNMC, 96-87 and 90-61, at home, Jan. 13-14. 

Despite missing their injured scoring leader, Caitlin Durkin (19.0), who ranks 14th in scoring average and 22nd in the NAIA Division II with 45 three-point field goals, Johnson and Wales began quickly and led 9-0 after just 1:44 of play. ACU later hit four three-point field goals in a span of 3:39 and tied the score at 24-24 on a long-range bomb by junior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian H.S.) with 10:14 left before intermission and led twice briefly by two points. After ACU went ahead, 28-26, JWU scored 10 consecutive points and built its lead to 36-28 with 5:56 left. 

Senior guard Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana H.S.), who ranks second in the NAIA Division II and first in the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) with a 22.4 point average and eighth in the NAIA Division with 58 steals and 13th with 55 three-point field goals, drilled two three-pointers within 22 seconds and brought ACU back to just two points behind, 36-34 with 5:25 left. Liscum totaled 14 points with four three-pointers in the first half, but added just six points in the last 4:37 of the second half for a total of 20 for the game. 

Largo's second three-pointer at 2:11 put ACU down just 44-43, but JWU closed the half on a 7- 2 streak and led 51-45 at intermission. Guard Amber Salaz gave JWU 15 points and 3 three- 

pointers in the first 20 minutes, and two other Wildcats, guards Victoria Huber and Samantha Neal scored in double figures with 11 and 10 points respectively. ACU hit nine three-pointers while JWU made six, and JWU enjoyed a 9-2 free throw advantage in the first half. 

Johnson and Wales broke open the game with a 26-5 run at the start of the second half, including nine points by guard Kourtney Shirley and two three-pointers by Salaz, and led 77-50 with 12:14 left in the game. JWU reached its biggest lead of the game, 94-60, with 4:46 left to play. JWU shot 54.1 percent from the field (20-37) in the second half, while ACU shot just 26.7 percent (8-30). 

Five Wildcats scored in double figures. Salaz led JWU with 27 points on 9 of 16 shots and made six of nine from behind the three-point arc and also had four rebounds, two assists and one steal. Shirley pumped in 23 points, 14 in the second half, with 3 three-pointers, seven rebounds, eight assists and one steal. Guard Samantha Neal finished with 15 points, two three-pointers, four rebounds, five assists and two steals, and reserve guard Jasmine Culbreath contributed 15 points, one three-pointer, six rebounds and three steals. Forward Victoria Huber added 13 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and three steals. 

Besides Liscum's 20 points, four three-pointers, four rebounds, two assists and one steal, freshman Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) added 13 points, five rebounds and three steals, and ranks tenth in the NAIA Division II with a 54.7 field goal percentage and 22nd in total rebounds (172). Largo scored 12 points with four three-pointers, four rebounds, four assists and one steal, and senior guard Anne Munsil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) contributed nine points, eight in the first half, two three-pointers, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Freshman starting forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds.