GIRLS’ BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS

Another Division II semifinal:

University City 43, Point Loma 41--Point Loma did almost everything right in the final 5:45 of its game against University City.

The Pointers’ only drawback was they didn’t do enough wrong.

University City, which led by 15 with 5:45 left, escaped with the victory, in part, because Point Loma failed to foul the Centurions enough in the second half.

With 13 seconds left and University City in possession, the Pointers had committed only two fouls in the half, five too few to be able to force the Centurions to the free-throw line.

As a result, Point Loma’s 17-4 run in the final 5:45 fell short, and University City advanced to its first San Diego Section final with its first victory over Point Loma since opening its doors in 1981.

University City will face Carlsbad in the Division II final at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the San Diego Sports Arena.

“I was very impressed with the way Point Loma came back,” UC Coach Steve Vukojevich said. “A lesser team would have folded up and gone home. Point Loma never quit.”

After taking an early 13-2 lead, University City outscored Point Loma, 14-3, in the third quarter to go up, 35-21.

Oddly, the key for the Centurions was that team leader Jenny Gross (team-high 13 points) scored only three and two points, respectively in the decisive first and third quarters.

Charlene Legaux scored 11 points for the Centurions (24-3). Sharinda Hunter scored eight of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter for the Pointers (23-4).