Fresno Calif.-- Azusa Pacific hasn't won the GSAC title since 1989. That was 10 years ago. A decade later, the Cougars claimed their first GSAC title since then with a 70-66 win over Fresno Pacific in Fresno, Saturday night. Coupled with the So. Cal College win tonight, the Cougars will share the title with the Vanguards but get the No.2 seed in the GSAC Tournament beginning Tuesday.

Tonight, however, the Cougars were ready to celebrate

"I'm not sure how i feel yet" said Cougar Head Coach Danille Jorgenson. T"here is incredible chemistry on the team. We faced adversity this year but they stayed focused on their goal."

The Cougars jumped all over the Sunbirds early in the contest, holding a 16 point lead 34-18 with 4 minutes left in the half. But the Sunbirds came back on a 10-2 run to close out the first 20 minutes and trailed 36-28 at the intermission. Sophomore center Jennifer Barbone (Glendora CA/Glendora HS) was too much down low in the first half for the Sunbirds undersized front-court to handle. She scored 10 of her team high 19 in the first half and picked up where she left off in the second frame.

Fresno cut the lead to 1 (48-47) after a pair of free throws and had a chance to take the lead, but Barbone blocked a shot, then came down and scored on a layup to push the Cougar lead to 50-47. On the the next possession, Barbone scored on a put-back, was fouled and converted the free throw to push the lead to 53-47. After Fresno cut the lead to 53-49 and forced a stop. Barbone blocked another shot forcing a tie up.

The Sunbirds cut the lead to 1 several times but the Cougars kept answering. With a 56-55 lead Jessica Herman (Susanville, CA/Lasson HS) nailed a jumper,then Lemm stole the next pass, was intentionally fouled and scored both free throws for a 59-55 lead. Herman hit a pair of free throws to up the lead 61-55. Fresno scored the next 5 points to put the score at 61-60, but Amy Lemm (Moscow ID/ Moscow HS) hit a short jumper to move it to 63-60. However, Sunbird Ashlee Pinasco banked in a 3-pointer to ite it at 63-63.

After forcing a pair of Cougar turnovers, Stacey Sedulwick was fouled, nailed both free throws and the Sunbirds took a 65-63 lead. Then Herman hit a short jumper to tie it at 65 With under a minute to play, Fresno turned it over and freshman Catherine Solorio hit a jump shot to give the Cougars a 67-65 lead. Kate Charleston made one of the two free throws with 26 seconds left. Lemm was fouled and made both free throws for a 69-66 lead.

"We knew we would have to kit some key baskets at the end," said Lemm. "Everyone was intense and we all pulled together at the end."

Sedwick's 3 point attempt was blocked by Herman and Senior Kelly Speas (San Diego, CA/ Rancho Bernardo HS) fittingly grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and iced the game with 1 of 2 free throws for the 70-66 final.

"I was thinking that I should have made the first one but I knew I had to make the second" laughed Speas. "I have never been on a team that worked so hard. Everyone on this team deserves this."

Ironically, the last time the Cougars won the GSAC in 1989 they shared it with Fresno Pacific. Tonight, they beat Fresno to win it this year. Lemm finished with 13 points and 7 rebounds and Solorio had 13 points and 5 assists.

The Cougars finished 11-3 in the GSAC and moved to 22-7 on the season and will host either Cal Baptist or Westmont on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., in the first round of the GSAC Postseason Tournament. Fresno drops to 9-5 and will either host Biola or Point Loma in the first round