With a 74-64 win, the Cougars improve to 16-3n on the season
Just two weeks ago, Azusa Pacific’s women’s basketball team dominated Biola, defeating their rival by a whopping 39 points at home. The five points added to the Cornerstone Cup gave APU a 35-20 lead at the time. On Saturday, this time in enemy territory, the Cougars added five more points to their lead.
The Cougars traveled to Biola looking to mimic their previous success, and their first-quarter run was a strong start. The Cougars led by as many as nine points in the first before Biola’s offense started clicking. Yet, the strong early run by APU allowed them to escape the quarter with a 20-12 lead.
Throughout the second quarter, both sides continued to play strong. Biola outscored APU by a single point in the quarter, and at halftime, the Cougars held a strong 37-30 lead.
Despite beginning the third quarter with two quick buckets, the Cougars lead diminished rapidly. The Eagles went on an 8-0 run in just over a minute and a half, closing the gap to just four points.
It was essential for APU to respond with a run of their own, which they did. The Cougars went on an 8-0 run of their own that took up nearly three minutes of play. Once the quarter concluded, the Cougars continued to hold a tight grip on their lead, with a now 16-point differential.
It would have taken a miracle for the Eagles to come back and win this ballgame. Although Biola put up a resilient effort, outscoring APU 22-16 in the period, it wasn’t enough. The Cougars defeated their rival again by a final score of 74-64.
The victory added five more points to the Cougars already secure Cornerstone Cup lead, advancing their lead to 45-20.
Savanna Hanson had one of her most complete games of her excellent 2019-20 campaign so far, leading the team in scoring with 17 points and 14 rebounds, which was her personal best. Her sister, Daylee Hanson, also had a strong game, scoring 14 points, and sophomore Alex Lowden had her best performance of her season, scoring 14 points as well.
The win for APU improved their record to 16-3, and their 10-3 league record continues to keep them ranked second in the PacWest Conference standings. The Cougars will travel to San Diego on Wednesday to take on Point Loma at 5:30 p.m.