IRVINE, Calif. - Number five seeded Concordia University (8-20) led by seven points at halftime and built its lead to 23 points three times in the second half on its way to an 84-62 Golden State Athletics Conference Women's Basketball Tournament first-round victory over number eight seeded Arizona Christian University (4-23), Monday, February 25, in CU Arena in Irvine, Calif. ACU junior forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.), ACU's leading scorer and rebounder (13.4 ppg and 8.2 rpg), recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 19 points and 13 rebounds. 

With the loss, the Firestorm, coached by Jerry Conner, completes their 2012-13 season, and Concordia moves into the GSAC Women's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals at number four seeded San Diego Christian College (16-14) in El Cajon, Calif., Wednesday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. In Monday's other first-round game, number six seed Biola University (15-16) edged number seven seed Hope International University (12-18), 63-61, in La Mirada, Calif. Biola travels to number three seed The Master's College (25-4) in Santa Clarita, California, Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. 

Wednesday's quarterfinal winner between San Diego Christian and Concordia travels to number one seeded Westmont College (24-3), which ranks number four in the NAIA, for a Friday, March 1 GSAC semifinal, at 7:30 p.m., and Friday's other quarterfinal winner between Biola and Master's plays the other semifinal at number two seeded Vanguard University (21-3), which is tied for the number seven ranking in the NAIA National poll. The semifinal winners meet for the GSAC Championship on Tuesday, March 5, at Concordia's CU Arena in a 5 p.m. game that will be televised by FOX College Sports. 

After a tightly played first 14:45, Concordia finally put together 10 consecutive points and led 36-26 with 4:00 left to play in the first half. The Eagles led by nine twice more in the last 3:28 and prevailed 39-32 at halftime. Concordia grabbed 14 offensive rebounds and scored 16 second-chance points in the first half, while ACU gathered just four offensive rebounds and 

scored three second-chance points. The Eagles out-rebounded ACU, 31-19, in the first 20 minutes. Concordia made 15 of 43 from the field (.349) and made 2 three-pointers, while ACU made 11 of 31 shots (.355) and 5 of 13 three-pointers (.385). 

Concordia guard Melody Chavez drilled 2 three-pointers and scored 10 points, and forward Camesha Patton added eight points in the first half. Senior guard Paula Clendaniel (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega H.S./York College, Neb.) hit 3 three-pointers for nine points, and Hock and junior guard Jubilee Sutherland (Glennallen, Alaska/Glennallen H.S./Eastern Wyoming CC) each scored eight first-half points for ACU. 

After ACU sliced Concordia's lead to three points, 43-40, with 16:28 left in the game, Concordia built its lead to 10 points three times in the next six minutes, including 57-47 with 10:27 left after 2 three-pointers by Chavez in the span of 36 seconds. ACU went without a field goal for nearly three minutes while Concordia forged ahead by 10 points. 

Both teams went scoreless for two minutes, but Concordia broke out of the slump in a huge way, scoring 15 consecutive points, including six consecutive points by guard Ashley Engeln in just 35 seconds, and led 70-47 with 6:29 left in the game. ACU sent scoreless for 4 minutes, 31 seconds while Concordia led by 23 points three times in the final portion of the contest. 

Hock finished the game with 19 points, 11 in the second half, and 13 rebounds, her eighth double-double, and also blocked one shot and had one steal. Senior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian School) added 12 points, 4 three-pointers in six tries, two rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot, and Clendaniel finished with nine points, 3 three- pointers, five rebounds, one blocked shot and two steals. Sutherland also totaled nine points with one three-pointer and three rebounds and seven assists, and sophomore forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) contributed eight points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshman forward Cheyenne Huskey (Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge H.S.) added five points and two steals. All six players in uniform for ACU scored five or more points. 

Guard Katie Ogdon led all scorers with 21 points and hit 2 three-pointers, gathered 15 rebounds, passed three assists and had one steal, and Chavez finished with 15 points, 3 three-pointers, four rebounds and three assists. Patton added 12 points, seven rebounds and one blocked shot, and Engeln scored six points, all late in the second half, and had seven rebounds.