COSTA MESA, Calif. -- For nearly the entire season, Azusa Pacific led the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) in free throw shooting. However, in the most important game of the season, when the Cougars needed to be at their best from the line, Azusa Pacific missed 14-of-27 free throws and thus fell to Southern California College, 61-53, in the championship game of the GSAC Postseason Tournament, Monday night.
With the victory, Southern Cal College earns its second straight bid into the NAIA National Championship Tournament, which gets underway next week (March 16-22) in Jackson, Tenn.
In 31 previous game, Azusa Pacific shot at a 70% clip from the line. Tonight, however the Cougars were just 13-of-27 (.481) and missed 9 free throws in the second half.
Alison Carr led Azusa Pacific with a game-high 18 points, but the senior center was just 6-for-14 at the line and 3 times missed back-to-back free throws. Senior guard Kelly Speas ended her 4-year career with 12 points.
So. Cal College was paced by Sara Herkenhoff's 17 points.
So. Cal College led 21-12 before the Cougars went on a 9-2 run to pull to within 23-21 with 6 minutes to go in the first half. Azusa Pacific had 2 chances to knot the score at 23 but Carr missed a pair of lay-ups and Charlene Simril missed a breakaway lay-up. The Vanguards responded with 4 straight free throws to take a 30-26 lead into the locker room at halftime. Speas led the Cougars with 8 first-half points, followed by Jennifer Barbone and Carr who each had 5 points.
With the loss, the Cougars' 9-game winning streak is snapped and Azusa Pacific's season closes with a 24-8 record.
SCC moves on to the NAIA Tourney with a 26-8 record.
