SANTA CLARITA, Calif. -- Arizona Christian used a decisive second-quarter surge and late free-throw execution to secure a 72-64 win over second-seeded The Master’s on Saturday afternoon in the GSAC Women’s Basketball Championship Semifinals at The MacArthur Center.
After a tightly contested opening quarter that featured multiple lead changes, The Master’s carried a narrow 16-14 advantage into the second period. Arizona Christian quickly shifted momentum behind efficient offense and improved defensive pressure, outscoring the Mustangs 22-13 in the quarter to take control before halftime.
Arizona Christian shot over 61 percent from the field in the second frame while knocking down three triples, turning a back-and-forth contest into a seven-point halftime lead at 36-29.
The Firestorm continued to build separation early in the third quarter. A pair of free throws from Emily Till and consecutive baskets helped extend the margin to double digits, with ACU pushing its lead to as many as 13 midway through the period. Despite the deficit, The Master’s responded with a late run to close the gap to five entering the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs made their strongest push early in the final period, eventually tying the game at 52-52 following a three-pointer from Chloe Auble. The teams traded baskets throughout the middle portion of the quarter, with neither side able to gain lasting separation.
Arizona Christian ultimately regained control in the closing minutes behind timely shot-making and composure at the free-throw line. Mariana Golombowski delivered one of the game’s biggest moments with a go-ahead basket followed by a three-pointer that extended the Firestorm lead to four with under two minutes remaining.
From there, Till sealed the victory at the line. The senior forward finished a perfect 12-for-12 on free throws and scored 18 points while pulling down a game-high 14 rebounds to lead Arizona Christian.
Addison Neal provided a major offensive lift, scoring 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance, including 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. Taylor Schwab added 15 points and four assists, while Maggie Spencer contributed 13 points as four Firestorm starters reached double figures.
Arizona Christian’s balance proved decisive, as the Firestorm connected on 10 three-pointers and shot 90 percent from the free-throw line while winning the rebounding battle 44-25.
The Master’s was led by Allie Miller with 18 points, while Alli VanKooten added 16 points and nine rebounds. Chloe Auble also finished with 16 points for the Mustangs, who shot 44.6 percent from the field but struggled to match ACU’s perimeter shooting and second-chance opportunities.
The third-seeded Firestorm now travel to face regular-season champion Hope International in the GSAC Championship on Tuesday at 7 p.m. PT.