AZUSA, CALIF. — Azusa Pacific depended on its defense, as it held Pomona-Pitzer to 19 first-half points and forced 27 total turnovers, to hang on for a 61–54 win in a nonconference game, Tuesday evening in Azusa.

The Cougars built a 12-point lead, 50-38, with 5:30 left in the game, but Pomona-Pitzer rallied with a 12-7 run over the next four minutes to cut Azusa Pacific's lead to five points with 90 seconds left in the contest. The Cougars though were able to hang on, thanks to clutch free throw shooting down the stretch. Azusa Pacific made five straight free throws in the final three minutes.

Azusa Pacific was led by center Jennifer Barbone and forward Jessica Herman who scored 14 points apiece. Amy Lemm was the only other Cougar in double figures with 10. Danna Wilder grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. For the Sagehens center Malia Langworthy scored 13 points, while Soujourner Howe chipped in with nine points. Both Langworthy and Howe had eight rebounds.

In a low-scoring first half, the Cougars built an 11-8 lead over 11 minutes into the game, with Barbone scoring all of Azusa Pacific's points. After the two teams combined for only 29 points in the first 15 minutes of play, the Cougars closed with a 15-5 run over the final five minutes of the half to earn an 11-point lead at the intermission.

Azusa Pacific survived despite shooting a season-low 36% (25-for-69) from the floor, including just 1-for-10 from behind a three-point arc.

With the win, Azusa Pacific moves to 4-1 on the year, while Pomona-Pitzer starts the season at 0-1. The Cougars return to action Dec. 1 when they travel to Cal State San Bernardino for a 7 p.m. contest.