SAN DIEGO, CALIF. -- After starting GSAC play with impressive wins over defending champion Southern California College and upstart Westmont, the Cougars hit a bump in the road against struggling Point Loma.
The Cougars shot only 22% in the first half and trailed 34-15 at the break, a deficit they could not overcome as they dropped their first conference game of the season to Point Loma, 65-58.
The loss marks the fourth year in a row that Azusa Pacific has been unable to defeat Point Loma in San Diego. However, each of the past three years, the Cougars have evened the season series with a win in Azusa.
The bottom fell out of the Cougars' attack just past the midway point of the first session. After taking a 15-13 lead with 8:43 remaining, the team would not score another point the rest of the half. They fell victim to a 6-27 shooting performance in the opening half, committing 12 turnovers and making only 2-of-7 free throws.
Azusa Pacific did mount a comeback in the second half, cutting the lead to under double digits after trailing 41-19 two minutes into the half. Alison Carr kept the Cougars hopes alive, scoring 14 of her 18 points after the break, including 5 in the final minute. Catherine Solorio added 10 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
The Cougars were without the services of forward Jessica Herman, who suffered a sprained ankle during practice, yet still outrebounded the Crusaders 46-42.
The loss drops the team to 12-5, 2-1 in GSAC play.
