Box Score PHOENIX, AZ– The Arizona Christian Firestorm women's basketball team fell to the Hope International Royals on Saturday afternoon by a final of 67-55 inside of the Fultz Memorial Gymnasium on the campus of Arizona Christian University.
With the loss, the Firestorm fall to 5-19 overall and 1-10 in GSAC play. With the victory, the Hope International Royals improve to 16-9 overall and 7-4 in GSAC play.
The first half was a close battle between the Royals and the Firestorm, as ACU took a slim two point lead at 30-28 into halftime. Arizona Christian shot 41% from the floor in the first half and shot 44% from beyond the three-point arc. The Firestorm went just 2-for-8 from the free-throw line in the first half. Hope International on the other hand, struggled from the field shooting just 36% from the floor. The Royals shot 0-for-5 from beyond the three-point arc in the first half, but went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
In the second half, the Royals came out firing on all cylinders and outscored the Firestorm 39-25 on their way to the 67-55 victory. Hope International shot 52% from the field in the second half and attempted just two three-pointers; knocking down one of them. The Royals also went an impressive 12-for-14 at the free-throw line in the second half. Arizona Christian on the other hand, shot just 31% (9-for-29) in the second half from the field. The Firestorm did go 4-for-9 from the three-point line and 3-for-6 from the free-throw line in the second half.
Hope International won the game by dominating the paint, outscoring ACU 34-10.
The Firestorm had four players finish in double-figures, with Samantha Young leading the way with 12 points. Young shot 6-of-14 from the floor in her 24 minutes played.
The Firestorm women will now hit the road for a pair of games at Vanguard University and at Concordia University. First up, is the Vanguard Lions this Thursday at 6:30pm MST. The ACU men's game will follow at 8:30pm. Arizona Christian returns home on February 19th, when Westmont College comes to town, with the game scheduled to start at 5:30pm.
