Cougars Give Fresno Pacific The Business

AZUSA, CALIF. — Christy Heyer's only up with seven seconds left listed as Azusa Pacific to a 66-64 upset of GSAC front-runner Fresno Pacific in Azusa, Friday night.

The Cougars, who trailed 13-2 just four minutes into the game, rallied from a seven point (35-28) halftime deficit and used a 10-2 run to take a 58-52 lead with 5:46 left in the game. However, Fresno Pacific, which pummeled Azusa Pacific, 84–62, on Jan. 10 in Fresno, came back to tie the game at 58 all with 3:51 to play and took the lead at 64-62 when Shannae Castellanos made 1-of-2 free throws to put Fresno Pacific up with 64 seconds remaining. All-GSAC performer Suzy Hassell, who led all players with the game-high 24 points, then hit a 10-foot jumper with 42 seconds to knot the score at 64. The Cougars stopped Fresno Pacific on its next trip down court to set up Heyer's heroics. Fresno Pacific, which had two fouls to give, opted to let the Cougars set up for a game-winning shot. Still, the Sunbirds had one last chance to send the game into overtime. However, Sunbird sophomore Jenee Young let a halfcourt inbounds pass slip through her hands and out of bounds to secure the Cougar victory.

Fresno Pacific, which made 15 of 29 (.517) shots in the first half, melted in the sweltering second half heat (90-degree day in Southern California) and made just 9-of-31 (.290) shots in the second half. More disappointing for the Sunbirds was a fact they made just 12-of-25 (.490) free throws in the second half and missed the front end of four straight 1-and-1 opportunities in the final five minutes of the game. On the other hand, Azusa Pacific, which was just 9-for-26 (.346) from the floor in the first half, made 16-of–27 (.592) shots in the second half to lead to comeback charge.

Young, the GSAC's leading scorer, lead Fresno Pacific with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Heyer added 14 points for the Cougars, and freshman Christy Brock dropped in 12 points, all in the second half, to aid the Cougar cause.

Azusa Pacific, which is the only team the past two seasons to beat Fresno Pacific in GSAC play (the Cougars collected a 63-54 overtime win in Fresno last year), has now won four straight on the season and improves to 8-14 overall, 4-3 in GSAC play. Fresno Pacific falls to 14-8 overall and 6-1 in GSAC play but remains a game–and–a–half ahead of second-place Southern California College, which hosts Point Loma Nazarene tomorrow night.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Suzy Hassell: F-C; 6' 0"; Senior

#31 Christy Brock: G; 5' 9"; Freshman

#42 Christy Heyer: F; 5' 10"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#10 Suzy Hassell
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F-C

#31 Christy Brock
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: G

#42 Christy Heyer
: 5' 10"; Junior
: F

Players Mentioned

#10 Suzy Hassell

#31 Christy Brock

#42 Christy Heyer

Players Mentioned

#10 Suzy Hassell

#31 Christy Brock

#42 Christy Heyer