Riverside, Calif. – One week after Arizona Christian University (8-17, 4-4 A.I.I.) defeated La Sierra University (5-23; 2-1 A.I.I.) by one point in Phoenix on ACU's Senior Night, La Sierra returned the favor, defeating the Firestorm, 104-102 in overtime, in Association of Independent Institutions action on Senior Night at La Sierra in Riverside, California, Saturday, Feb. 4. 

ACU, coached by Jerry Conner, completes its regular season with a pair of A.I.I. contests at Northern New Mexico College (3-18, 0-4 A.I.I.) in Espanola, New Mexico, Friday, Feb. 10, at 5 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. Currently, the Firestorm rests in ninth place in the A.I.I. standings, but if it finishes in the top five, they will be invited to participate in the 2012 State Farm Association of Independent Institutions National Qualifying Women's Basketball Championships at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, Feb. 24-26. 

ACU led 41-38 at halftime and the teams were tied at 88-88 at the end of regulation time. The Firestorm La Sierra led by as many as 11 points twice in the first half, including 23-12 at 9:15, but ACU eventually tied the game at 34 with 2:10 left. In the second half, La Sierra led 54-47 with 13:17 left in regulation time but ACU fought back to lead 71-67 at the 7:03 mark and there were nine ties in the final seven minutes of the second half and 14 total ties in the contest. Both sides gained the lead 10 times during the game. 

The teams were tied twice in the first 1:32 of overtime. ACU led 102-98 in overtime at a three- point play by senior guard Steffani Liscum (Tucson, Ariz./Marana H.S.) with 1:30 left to play, but La Sierra scored the game's last six points, including a last-second, game-winning three- point field goal by sophomore guard Joirdan Jones, who finished with 15 points with 3 three- pointers, two of them in the final 1:38 of overtime. Sophomore guard Natalia Hawthorne, La Sierra's leading scorer, totaled 32 points on 12 of 22 shots, including a field goal in the paint with 32 seconds remaining that cut ACU's lead to 102-101, setting up Jones' heroics. 

Liscum, who became ACU's first-ever 1000-career point player near the end of ACU's Feb. 3 game at Chapman, added 38 more points to her career total, 18 in the second half and 11 in overtime, making 14 of 31 field goals and 8 of 11 free throws, and contributed two three- pointers, two rebounds, three assists and four steals. Liscum ranks third in the NAIA Division II and first in the NCCAA Division I with a 23.3 point average. 

Freshman forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) added 18 points, 12 in the first half, hitting eight of 13 shots and both of her three-point field goal attempts, and had eight rebounds, two assists and two steals before fouling out with 2:22 left in overtime. Senior guard Anne Munsil (Scottsdale, Ariz./Scottsdale Christian Academy), the Firestorm's career three- point leader with 140, tallied 11 points, two three-pointers, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal, and junior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M. Rehoboth Christian School) added 10 points, all in the first half, two three-pointers, four rebounds, three assists and a steal. 

Freshman forward Jamie Heath (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird H.S.) scored nine points, with one three-pointer, three rebounds and two steals, and freshman forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) finished with four points and five rebounds. Freshman forward Liz Erickson (Peoria, Ariz./Northwest Christian School) finished with six points and one steal. 

Four La Sierra players scored 15 or more points, including Hawthorne's 32 points, 28 in the second half and two in overtime, two three-pointers, six rebounds, four assists and seven steals. Guard Brittani Walker, who did not face ACU a week ago due to an injury, scored 20 points and gathered 11 rebounds, and two steals, and Jones scored 15 points with 3 three-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds and passed six assists. Center Ashley Baumgaert finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds and two assists, and forward Victoria Lowe contributed eight points, 12 rebounds and five assists. 

La Sierra enjoyed a huge 61-38 rebound advantage over ACU and shot 45.8 percent from the field (38-83), 37.5 percent from three-point range (6-16) and 51.2 percent from the free throw stripe (22-43). The Golden Eagles committed 33 turnovers and stole the ball back from ACU 10 times.