Phoenix, Ariz. - Junior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian H.S.) swished a three-pointer with 1:06 left in the game, giving Arizona Christian University (8-15, 4-3 A.I.I.) its final 83-82 margin in Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) women's basketball action, in front of a Homecoming crowd of 300, Saturday, Jan. 28, at Fultz Memorial Gym in Phoenix. 

ACU, coached by Jerry Conner, travels to southern California for a pair of road contests next week at Chapman University (11-8) in Orange, Friday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m., Arizona time, and a rematch at La Sierra University in Riverside, Saturday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m., Arizona time. 

Senior guard Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana H.S.) fouled out with 1:23 left after scoring 35 points, 18 in the first half, on 12 of 29 shots, and ranks second in the NAIA Division II and first in the NCCAA with a 22.8 point average. She has scored 20 or more points in 15 of ACU's 23 games and 30 or more in six games this season. La Sierra's Victoria Lowe totaled 21 points, 12 in the second half, and grabbed 15 rebounds. 

ACU's five seniors were honored prior to the Firestorm's last home contest of the season: Liscum, who now has 982 career points in 43 games at ACU; guard Anne Munsil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy), a four-year starter with 802 career points in 83 games; guards Elizabeth Inscore (Dayville, Ore./Dayville H.S.) and Jessica Smith (Mesa, Ariz./Home Schooled), who are three-year letter-winners; and guard Deserae Palomares (Phoenix, Ariz./St. Mary's H.S./South Mountain CC), a two-year letter-winner. 

La Sierra led by as many as 11 points twice in the first half, 14-3 with 14:15 left and 23-12 at the 8:42 mark. Arizona Christian outscored La Sierra, 23-11, in a span of 6:38 and took its first lead of the game, 35-34, on Liscum's free throws with 2:04 left before intermission. Munsil's three- pointer at 1:08 put ACU ahead by two points for the first time in the game, 38-36, and La Sierra tied the score at 38-38 with six seconds left. 

La Sierra took a seven-point lead, 54-47, with 13:15 left in the second half, but Arizona Christian completed a 24-13 run to lead again, 71-67, the Firestorm's biggest lead of the game. La Sierra tied the game at 71-71 on a three-pointer at 6:48 by guard Natalia Hawthorne, her third of the game, and Lowe's three-point play at 6:23 capped a 7-0 La Sierra streak that give the visitors a 74-71 lead. The score was tied four more times after that point of the game, and La Sierra took two-point leads at 76-74, 80-78 and 82-80, but each time ACU fought back to tie or lead. 

Munsil tied the game at 76 with a driving lay-up at 5:15, and freshman forward Liz Erickson (Peoria, Ariz./Northwest Christian School) hit an off-balance jumper in the lane put ACU ahead, 78-76. Ashley Baumgaertl scored inside for La Sierra, tying the game at 78 with 4:31 left, and again at 3:49, putting the Golden Eagles ahead 80-78. Liscum scored two free throws at 2:13 for an 80-80 tie, and Lowe and Baumgaertl each hit one of two free throws in the next 50 seconds, giving La Sierra an 82-80 lead, but those were the final points in the game for La Sierra. 

Largo's three-pointer barely rippled the net on its way down at 1:06 left, giving ACU its final 83-82 margin, but Lowe traveled with 54.8 seconds left and then blocked a shot underneath on ACU's next possession with 27.5 seconds on the clock. Lowe was fouled by Erickson, who fouled out on the play, but missed both charity tosses with 10.2 seconds left. Baumgaertl fouled out on the next play with 8.5 seconds left, but Largo missed two free throws. ACU's defense pinned La Sierra against the sideline for most of the final seconds, and Hawthorne's long three- pointer at the buzzer dipped in and then out of the basket, giving ACU the comeback victory. 

Besides Liscum's 35 points, 3 three-pointers, three rebounds, four assists and four steals, ACU received 12 points, 2 three-pointers, five rebounds, six assists and four steals from Largo and 10 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals from freshman Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.), who has recorded 10 double-doubles this season. Munsil, who also sang the National Anthem prior to the game, totaled eight points, one three-pointer, seven rebounds and two assists, and Erickson contributed six points, six rebounds, one blocked shot and one steal. 

Five Eagles scored in double figures, including Lowe's 21, and 19 points by Shelby Madigan, 12 in the second half, plus eight rebounds, two assists and one steal. Joirdan Jones totaled 16 points, 12 in the first half, two three-pointers, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals, and Hawthorne contributed 14 points, 3 three-pointers, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Baumgaertl tallied 12 points, with 7 rebounds and three assists.