By Don Gilmore, TMU Assistant Sports Information Director

Everything was set up for a letdown Thursday evening on Bross Court.

The Master’s University women’s basketball team had won three of its last four games.

The Mustangs had climbed to fourth place in the Golden State Athletic Conference standings with an eye toward second.

And, they were facing a San Diego Christian squad that was winless in nine conference games.

Letdown?

Not a chance.

TMU scored the game’s first five points and never trailed on the way to a defense-fueled 59-42 win over the visiting Hawks.

“We continue to make strides with our defense,” said TMU Coach Dan Waldeck. “I’m so proud of how we battled tonight. There were very few letdowns over the course of the game.”

The victory vaulted the Mustangs (16-6 overall, 6-4 in GSAC) into a third-place tie with Arizona Christian, setting up a Saturday showdown with the Firestorm as the end of the regular season and the GSAC Tournament loom.

Forcing seven Hawk turnovers and allowing them just five field goals in the first quarter, the Mustangs built a 17-11 lead after one.

Consecutive buckets from Sabrina Thompson snapped a 7-all tie, and the Mustangs never relented.

The defense really exerted itself in the second stanza when the Mustangs surrendered just six points, limiting the Hawks to 1-of-13 shooting.

At the other end, the Mustangs took advantage, bookending the quarter with a 6-0 run to start and a 9-2 run to close as they doubled up the Hawks 34-17 at halftime.

San Diego Christian shot just 24 percent in the first half. The Mustang offense, which has struggled of late, countered with 38 percent accuracy.

“The girls are working hard to re-capture some offensive flow,” Waldeck said. “With the renewed sense of purpose they are showing, I’m confident in their toughness to peak at the right time.”

They showed flashes in the third quarter, using a 6-0 burst to take their largest lead of the evening, 44-21. Hannah Forrar ignited the run with a layup, and Hannah Ostrom finished it off with a jumper and two free throws.

The Mustangs led 47-28 at the end of the third quarter.

San Diego Christian enjoyed its best quarter of the game over the final 10 minutes, but even then it got no closer than 12 points before the Mustangs outscored the Hawks 7-2 down the stretch to close out the win.

Ostrom’s game-high 17 points were highlighted by a trio of 3-pointers.

Forrar added 10 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds while Thompson chipped in with 10 more.

“Saturday will be an extremely tough game against a really good team,” Waldeck said. “It should be fun.”

The Mustangs hope it will be as they seek to avenge an 87-68 loss to Arizona Christian on January 11.

Game time is set for 2 p.m. on Bross Court.