Basketball (W)

1/7/10- Salazar Led Royals Pull Out Win

Fullerton, CA- Despite having an off night shooting, Hope International managed to pull out a 53-52 win over Chapman on Thursday night.  Sophomore Lindsay Salazar scored the last six points of the game including the game winning jumper with 8 seconds left.  Though Lindsay gets the game winning glory, her sister Sophomore Lauren Salazar was the star of the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 6 steals.

After a slow start by both teams, the score was tied 9-9 with 10:27 showing on the first half clock.  Lindsay Salazar had five of the Royals’ first nine points. 

The second part of the first half went in favor of the Panthers (7-8) as they outscored the Royals (5-9) 16-14 to end the half up 25-23.

Lauren Salazar (pictured at right) had a team high six points at the break but she was just getting warmed up.

Almost six minutes into the half the Panther still held their two point advantage.  However in the next four and half minutes, the Royals went ice cold shooting and watch their deficit grow to 13.  In fact, the Royals shot just 18% in the first ten minutes of the second half.

With eight minutes left in the game, the Royals were still down 13 (47-34).  In the final eight minutes, the Royals outscored Chapman 19-5 to take the game. As part of the game winning run, the Royals found their shooting and shot 50% from the field. 

Lauren Salazar went on a mission out scoring the Panthers 13-5 by herself to bring the Royals to within five at 52-47 with two minutes and 45 seconds to play.  She did not miss a shot attempt (from the field or free throw line) during her Lauren stand run.

The baton was passed to Lindsay Salazar (pictured at right) to finish the game and finish she did.  Her eight foot jumper in traffic with eight seconds left sealed the comeback for the Royals.

After reaching 52 points with 3:04 to play, the Panthers would not score again the rest of the night. 

The defensive stand of the night came for the Royals came with just under two minutes left in the game.  With the Panthers fighting the shot clock, Lauren Salazar blocked a reverse layup attempt out of bounds with 6 seconds left on the shot clock.  On the ensuing in bounds play, Senior Sara Lycans-Roy blocked a layup attempt out of bounds.  With a second left on the shot clock, Lauren Salazar stole the ball to complete the defensive stand.

For the Royals, their win against Chapman represents their final game out of GSAC play for the remainder of the year.  On Saturday, Hope International will find themselves in Fresno to face off with Fresno Pacific at 2:30 in the afternoon.

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