COSTA MESA -- Vanguard women's basketball went toe-to-toe with Pacific West Conference leaders Point Loma Saturday afternoon, but time ran out on the Lions for the second game in a row.  VU trailed by three with four seconds left, but PLNU fouled to cap the Blue and Gold with two free-throw attempts to capture a 59-57 win.  The Lions dropped to 12-4 overall and 8-3 in the PacWest, while Point Loma jumped to 14-4, 10-2.
 
Kaylee Byon played all but one minute of the game and banked a season-high and a game-high of 25 points on her old teammates.  She was a tick under 50% shooting on the night (10-of-21) and tied the team-high of eight rebounds. 
 
The two squads were close to each other in most statistical categories, with PLNU's 28-20 edge in points in the paint and 18-7 lead in assists being the only truly tilted categories.
 
What Happened?  Byon delivered the first four VU points, but a three on the next Point Loma possession kept the visitors one point back.  A tidy tip by Eiley Tippins put the Sea Lions ahead 10-9 midway through the first quarter, and a Sea Lion layup with 1:22 to go was the only other bucket in the first, as PLNU led 12-9 after one defensive-focused quarter.  Point Loma went 5-for-16 (31.2%) from the field in the first, with VU making three of its 13 shots for a 23.0% mark.
 
An opening triple extended the Point Loma lead to 15-9 30 seconds into the new period, but Byon and Emma Schaaf quickly made shots at the rim to return the gap to two at 15-13.  Once more, the lineups dialed up the pressure, and baskets came in like the waves at low tide.  Despite that, VU took a 23-15 deficit and used back-to-back treys from Schaaf and Byon to pull within two at 23-21.  Free throws with 1:06 to go in the half by Aryanna Hudson cinched the game at 23-all, though the Sea Lions made a three to retake the lead.  But a missed PLNU basket with five seconds left gave the Lions enough time for Byon to spot Micaela Hanning in the corner, and she just got her buzzer-beater off to tie the score at 26-26 at halftime.  Point Loma made five of its 18 shots in the frame (27.7%), though four of those were from downtown.  The Blue and Gold shot 35.2% (6-of-17), with three of those conversions coming from beyond the arc.
 
The new half commenced and the contest with would be tied twice over the first three minutes, as both offenses had their best quarter of the night.  Another Hanning tripe with 6:07 to go gave VU a 33-30 edge, but PLNU led the rest of the frame.  The Lions did well to answer most of the Sea Lion shots, and played hard at both ends, but trailed 45-42 entering the fourth.  Both squads shot at a 46% clip in the period.
 
A Hudson splashdown from deep flung VU ahead 47-45 about a minute into the final stanza, and the lead swung to and fro after that.  The advantage exchanged hands six times over the next six minutes as the top squads in the PacWest traded shots inside the arc.  Ahead 53-52, a second-chance layup by Tippins put the Sea Lions ahead 55-52 with 2:51 to go.  Almost a minute later, Byon made a pair from the charity stripe to bring the gap down to one, but PLNU made a brace themselves with 46 ticks left on the board.  Vanguard set up an inbounds play, but the three did not go down, as the rim was not kind to the home side.  Vanguard fouled, and Point Loma made one of the two shots to go ahead 58-54, and made another with 14 seconds left to lead 59-54. 
 
A Byon layup with four seconds remaining gave the home faithful some hope, and a Byon steal with two ticks was greeted with more cheers, but PLNU immediately fouled.  Byon made the first free throw to make the gap 59-57, and though she then expertly threw her second attempt off the backboard and put her own rebound in, that play is not allowed, and Point Loma closed out a 59-57 decision.
 
The Lions shot 34.5% from the field in the game (20-for-58), 25.9% from downtown (7-for-27), and went 10-for-12 from the free-throw line (83.3%).  PLNU shot 36.1% from the floor (22-for-61), went 7-of-20 from deep (35%), and had an 8-for-13 night from the line (61.5%).  Behind Byon, Hanning made two triples and tallied nine points, with Schaaf next with seven, and the center grabbed eight rebounds to tie Byon.  Tippins had 20 points for PLNU.
 
Why is it Important?  The Lions drop to third in the standings and are tied with Dominican, who come to the Freed Center next.  The Blue and Gold will now have to take the away fixtures against both APU and PLNU, or get help from elsewhere, to claim the regular season title.  VU has now dropped two in a row to Point Loma, the first time that has happened since the 2008-2009 season.
 
What's Next?  The Penguins arrive Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. match.