SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- For the second consecutive game, Azusa Pacific suffered a heart-wrenching defeat, falling to GSAC rival Point Loma Nazarene, 70-68, in San Diego Tuesday night.

Last Saturday (Jan. 31), the Cougars rallied from a 14-point deficit only to lose 69-68 to Fresno Pacific when a Kelly Speas' (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS) potentially game-winning lay-up rolled off the rim as the final horn sounded.

In this game, Point Loma led by 11 points in both the first and second half, but once again the Cougars rallied and even took the lead down the stretch. However a pair of Jenny Shirbroun free throws with 1:38 left in the game gave Point Loma a 69-68 cushion which it held for the eventual victory.

For the seventh time this season and the third in the past 4 games, senior Pilar Surch (Garden Grove, Calif./Pacifica HS) led the Cougars in scoring with 15 points. Sophomore guard Amy Lemm (Moscow, Ida./Moscow HS) followed with 14 points. However, for the fourth time in 6 GSAC games, the Cougars shot under 40% from the floor, making just 27-of-77 (.351) shots, and no Cougar was 50% or better.

Azusa Pacific has now dropped 8 of its past 12 games and falls to 13-9 overall, 2-4 in the GSAC. Meanwhile, Point Loma wins for the third time in its past 4 games and improves to 10-12 overall and moves past Azusa Pacific and into fourth place in the GSAC at 3-3.