Atherton, CA- Senior Madison Austin scored a GSAC season high of 37 points at Menlo on Saturday afternoon.  Unfortunately, the rest of the Firestorm scored just 40 points as ACU fell 81-77 to the Oaks.

The Oaks (11-12, 4-6 GSAC) held the lead while allowing just two ties in the first five minutes of the contest.  The Firestorm (10-12, 2-7 GSAC) grabbed their first lead on a three pointer from Senior Alyssa Gruber.

Over the course of the next two and a half minutes, the teams played though two lead changes and three ties.  Freshman Courtney Christmas scored on a jumper and ACU moved ahead for good in the quarter holding a 22-18 lead 10 minutes in to the game.

Arizona Christian went up by six to begin the second quarter before Menlo rattled off eight straight points to reclaim the top score.

With six minutes and then again with 41 seconds left, Austin nailed a three pointer to briefly put the score back in ACU's favor.  But the Oaks countered with a three of their own in the closing seconds of the half to a take a 37-35 advantage into the locker room.

At the break, Austin was already up to 19 points.

The late three and lead change just before the half turned out to actually be the last lead change of the game.  Menlo's lead grew to 12 before settling in at eight (57-49) at the end of the third quarter.

Down 13 with seven and a half minutes remaining, the Firestorm started to make some noise.  With three minutes left, ACU was still down 10.  But a 9-1 run in two minutes and ten seconds made the game a 77-75 point contest- Austin scored seven of those nine points.

Menlo hit a shot for a four point edge before Austin sank the final two points of the game for ACU at the free throw line with 14 seconds remaining.  Two free throws iced the game for the Oaks.

Austin accounted for her 37 points thanks to 13-20 shooting from the field.  Going 4-9 from the behind the three point line means she only missed shots from two point range.  She was also a perfect 7-7 at the charity stripe.

The 37 points for Austin is the most scored by a basketball player- men or women- in the GSAC this year.  Her point total ranks tied for sixth in NAIA Division I Women's Basketball this season.

Christmas was the only other Firestorm to reach double figures as she ended with 11 points.

In the end, the Oaks outrebounding the Firestorm by a count of 41-25 and 16-8 on the offensive glass was a key factor in the outcome of the game.

Head Coach Odell Berry commented, "The Firestorm women took a positive step today in their loss to Menlo.  We played them tough to the end including a great late-game come back that fell just short.  We learned how tough it is to win on the road in the GSAC.  The Oaks were ready for us but we kept battling to the last second.    Madison had a fantastic game and was well supported by the rest of the team.  We fell well short of the rebounding goal losing that battle by 16. In the end it was the 20 turnovers that sealed the deal for the Oaks.  Still, we hung in and had a chance to win it.  We are close to being a very good team.  I hope we figure out how good we are before the season ends."

The Firestorm will have a week to rest up before hosting The Master's on Saturday at 1:00 pm AT/ 12:00 pm PT.