SAN DIEGO, Calif. – True freshman guard Asia Darcuiel scored a career-high 45 points to lead a fired-up Concordia University Irvine women's basketball team past Point Loma in overtime and in to the PacWest Conference Tournament.

The 45 points are the most for a Concordia University Irvine women's basketball player in a game since 1994. In addition to being the most points in the NCAA DII era for the program, it's also the third-most points on the all-time list, which includes the NAIA days. Former Concordia star Gitte Mejer scored 51 points and also 47 points in a pair of games in the early 1990s.

CUI secured a top six finish and a spot in the PacWest Conference Championships with the victory, assuring that Biola cannot catch them in the standings down the stretch.
 
Darcuiel was sensational shooting an efficient 19-for-28 from the field against the Sea Lions. She went 7-for-10 from the free throw line and finished with a healthy stat line that included not just 45 points but also six rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block.

On top of all of that, point guard Hannah Vela scored 15 points and sank three triples in a game for the first time in her career. Myia Collins contributed 14 points and had seven rebounds, Camryn Kiernan added 13 points and six boards, while sophomore Cadence Tarrant added eight rebounds off the bench.

"This was a big one for our program," explained CUI head basketball coach Christine Collins-Kiernan. "To clinch a tournament spot after being picked 10th (in the PacWest preseason poll) and counted out by most — that says everything about this group. And what a game - Big crowd, pressure environment, overtime — it had everything you need to either step back or step forward, and our team stepped right into it."

"I'm so proud of Asia — she was efficient, poised, and absolutely inspiring," added Collins-Kiernan. "And across the board, we had players fill gaps, make big plays, and bring the communication, clarity, and energy it takes to win on the road. I don't know where this will take us next, but I do know this — this group has already come a long way."
 
CUI likely will be either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. Point Loma will be the host and there is a chance we could have a rematch between the Golden Eagles and Sea Lions during the PacWest Conference Championships. The tournament will run from Thursday, March 5 through Saturday, March 7 down in San Diego.
 
CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest Conference women's basketball standings

CUI has two regular season games remaining with a trip to La Mirada to play Biola on Wednesday followed by Senior Night back at home against HPU next Saturday, Feb. 28
 
CLICK HERE for the full CUI women's basketball schedule