AZUSA, CALIF. -- The troubles with holiday layoffs are rust and conditioning. In the past 24 hours, Azusa Pacific has faced both issues head on and came out alive.

Azusa Pacific, playing its second game in as many days after enjoying a 12-day holiday break, looked sharp for 25 minutes but ran out of gas and had to hold on for dear life to post a 60-54 nonconference victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills Thursday afternoon in the Cougardome.

On the strength of its perimeter shooting, Azusa Pacific pushed a 7-point halftime lead into a comfortable 14-point cushion at 39-25 less than 5 minutes into the second half and appeared to be headed toward an easy victory. However, the Cougars went dead in the water and closed the game by making just 6 of its next 19 shots while committing 10 turnovers. Only offensive rebounds ö 10 of them to be exact in the final 15 minutes ö and an Allison Box 3-pointer with 1:25 left kept Dominguez Hills from stealing a victory.

The Toros made 9 of their last 20 shots, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Tracee Lewis and Rena Bonde to pull to within 54-50 with 2:14 left in the game. But Azusa Pacific stiffened with a Box trey from the top of the key to push the Azusa Pacific lead back to 57-50 and the Cougars held on over the final minute to collect its sixth straight win.

Box finished with a game-high 21 points, including 12 in the second half. Senior forward Jessica Herman added 5 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Cal State Dominguez Hills used a balanced attack that included 5 players with 6 or more points. Shanna Renken and Lewis led the way 9 points each.

Azusa Pacific opened up a tight game midway through the first half with a trio of 3-pointers and a pair of free throws that turned a 14-13 deficit into a 24-16 lead with 5:13 left in the opening half. Sophomore Catherine Soloorio sandwiched a pair of Jenn Clark free throws with a pair of 3-pointers and then Box capped an 11-2 Cougar run with another trey. Solorio, who has struggled of late from the floor, led all players with 11 first-half points.

Azusa Pacific finished the game with 8 3-pointers and out-rebounded Cal State Dominguez Hills, 48-30, which included 21 offensive boards for the Cougars.

With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 9-2 on the season while Cal State Dominguez Hills falls to 3-7.