AZUSA, Calif. -- - Azusa Pacific used a 31-16 run over the final 12:05 of the second half to break open a 10-point game and run by Cal Baptist, 86-61, in the first round of the Golden State Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament, Tuesday evening in Azusa.
The Cougars, who are the 1999 GSAC co-champions, held a 12-point advantage at the half (40-28), and the Lancers stayed within reach, down by 10 (53-43) with 15:30 remaining in the contest. However, a Jennifer Barbone layup spurred the run.
The turnaround for Azusa Pacific started down on the block as the Cougars repeatedly pounded the ball inside in the second half. Azusa Pacific outscored Cal Baptist, 30-14, down low, thanks to a career-high 24 points by Barbone.
"This team finds a switch somewhere in each game and turns it on," said Cougar Head Coach Danielle Jorgenson. "We finally started converting on the block in the second half and stopped them on the block. Barbone came up big hitting some key buckets. That was tonight's switch."
Azusa Pacific was led by a balanced attack with four players scoring in double figures. Kelly Speas and Amy Lemm added 13 points apiece, while Jessica Herman chipped in 12 points. Center Alison Carr and Lemm each pulled down a team-high 9 rebounds.
For Cal Baptist, Kati Sico scored 15 points, while Grace Smart tallied 12 and Wendy Slane grabbed a game-high 10 boards.
"I'll take this win going into Friday night," said Jorgenson. "We didn't play our best game of the season, and I was disappointed with our lack of intensity, but we were coming off of the biggest game in a decade for this program." (Azusa Pacific won at Fresno Pacific, 70-66, on Saturday.)
The Cougars, who have now won 8 straight - the most since the 1986 Cougars set the school standard at 17 in a row, have tallied 23 victories, the most by an Azusa Pacific team since that same 1986 team won 30.
The Cougars sputtered out of the gate, leading just 18-16 with 10 minutes into the game. Azusa Pacific earned a 40-28 halftime lead thanks to a 22-12 run over the final 10 minutes of the opening frame. Speas had 10 of her points in the first half.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 23-7 overall, while the Lancers finish their season at 8-24. Azusa Pacific hosts Concordia in the GSAC Tourney semifinals Friday night at 7:30 p.m.
