Phoenix, Ariz. - Arizona Christian University (3-7, 0-1 A.I.I.) sliced an 11-point lead to three points twice in the last three minutes of the game and lost 85-82 to Johnson and Wales University (9-5; 1-0 A.I.I.) in Saturday, Dec. 3 collegiate women's basketball action at the Arizona Christian Women's Basketball Classic. The game also was a conference game in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.). 

ACU women's basketball, coached by Jerry Conner, travels to southern California after final exams next week to take on Pomona-Pitzer College, Friday, Dec. 9, at 8:30 p.m. Arizona time, and Claremont-Mudd Scripps College, Saturday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. Arizona time. 

Senior guard Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana H.S.), the leading scorer in NAIA Division II with a 24.9 point average, totaled 21 points on 6 of 26 shots and 7 of 10 free throws, 13 in the first half, and 11 rebounds, six off the offensive glass, and recorded her second consecutive double double. She also hit 2 three-pointers in 13 tries, blocked a shot and stole the ball from JWU four times. Liscum also leads ACU with 28 three-pointers, 7 blocked shots, 26 steals and in rebounds, averaging 6.5 per game, and ranks second on the team with 23 assists. 

Freshman forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) finished with 10 points, 10 in the second half, and 10 rebounds, and recorded her third double double of the season and ranks second on the Firestorm squad, averaging 12.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. 

Junior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian School) contributed 15 points, 9 in the first half, one three-pointer, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals, and senior guard Anne Munsil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy) added 11 points, 9 in the second half, 2 three-pointers, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and one steal. Freshman forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) finished with 10 points on 5 of 9 shots, 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots 

and 2 assists, and senior guard Elizabeth Inscore (Dayville, Ore./Dayville H.S.) scored four points, grabbed 5 rebounds and stole the ball twice from JWU. 

Junior guard Samantha Neal led the Wildcats with 25 points, 17 in the second half, 4 three- pointers, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots and one steal, and junior guard Caitlin Durkin finished with 17 points, 3 three-pointers, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Senior guard Victoria Huber scored just 2 points in the game but gathered a game-high 13 rebounds, passed 3 assists, blocked a shot and stole the ball 3 times. Reserve guard Amber Salaz finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals, and starting guard Kourtney Shirley contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds, and guard Jasmine Culbreath finished with 9 points, all in the first half, and 3 rebounds. 

ACU shot just .341 from the field (30-88) for the game, made 7 of 39 three-point attempts (.179) and 15 of 23 free throws (.652), out-rebounded Johnson & Wales, 62-49, committed 23 turnovers and stole the ball from JWU 12 times. The Wildcats shot a low .384 from the field (28-73), hit 9 of 31 three-pointers (.290) and 20 of 26 free throws (.769), committed 21 turnovers and stole the ball from ACU 11 times. 

Johnson and Wales led by as many as 13 points in the first half, 31-18, with 3:44 left, but Arizona Christian outscored the Wildcats, 15-4, cutting JWU's advantage to 35-33. Liscum scored 7 and Largo scored 4 points during the run. JWU led 37-33 at halftime. Both teams committed 15 first-half turnovers, and ACU shot just .282 (11-39) from the field, while JWU shot .333 (13-39). 

Munsil's three-pointer at the 18:47 mark of the second half gave ACU its first lead (39-37) since 18:36 of the first half, and Liscum's three-pointer at 18:16 and Munsil's second three-pointer at 17:36 put ACU ahead, 45-42, its biggest lead of the game. JWU rebuilt its lead to five points five times in a span of just over three minutes, and the Wildcats led 75-64 with 7:23 left, its biggest lead of the second half.