Box Score ST GEORGE, UT -- The Dixie State University women's basketball team dropped their home opener 73-67 to Point Loma Nazarene University this afternoon in the Burns Arena.

The Red Storm (2-5/1-2 PWC) were paced by Haley Holmstead (American Fork, UT/American Fork) (23 points) and Kaylah Miller (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day) (20 points/5 rebounds), but plagued by 23 turnovers.

"Great to be home, we love our fans," said head coach Catherria Turner. "This year is going to be a journey and we showed signs of how good we can be."

A Taylor Mann (Castle Dale, UT/Emery) layup with 14:22 left in the first half, gave the Red Storm a 10-8 lead and extended it to nine points when Taylor Maynes (Salome, AZ/Salome) scored on a fast break with 11:47 left.

Point Loma would cut the lead to three points on a Madison West layup, but Miller responded with one of her six three pointers to lead 25-19.

The Sea Lions continued to pressure the Storm and eventually tied the game at 27 with 4:37 remaining in the half. But the Dixie State didnt back down as Miller and Holmstead helped DSU take a 37-35 lead into halftime.

Jessica Escorsa scored 17 of her 25 points after intermission to help PLNU outscore DSU by eight points in the second half. Point Loma scored 11 of the first 13 points after the break to quickly erase a two-point halftime deficit and take a 46-39 lead.

After the teams then traded baskets the Sea Lions would put the game away with a 13-1 run. Andersen scored eight points during the run, including hitting a shot behind the arc and a traditional 3-point play. She would finish the 7-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from behind the 3-point line en route to scoring her career-high 18 points.

Point Loma shot 45 percent in the contest and held Dixie State to 34 percent shooting and just 24 percent from 3-point range (6-of-25). The Red Storm received nearly all their offense from Haley Holmstead (American Fork, UT/American Fork) and Kaylah Miller (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day). Holmstead went 9-of-18 from the field and scored a team-high 23 points. Miller hit six treys and scored 20 points.

Point Loma (4-4/2-2 PWC) turned to Escorza, who had a game-high 25 points and added six rebounds.

Dixie State shot 34.2 percent from the field and 24 percent from three-point range. PLNU connected at 45.5 percent and 31.6 from behind the arc. DSU outrebounded the Sea Lions 53-32.

"We just had an off night shooting; along with not making the easy pass to the open person," concluded Turner.

Dixie State will play CSU Dominguez Hills on Wednesday Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. and Western Oregon on Thursday at 5 p.m. against in the Las Vegas Challenge at the Orleans Arena.