IRVINE, Calif. -- The NAIA's No. 20-ranked Azusa Pacific took care of business, and then found out the workload may get a lot harder.
 
The Cougars downed Concordia, 62-52, in Irvine to clinch the GSAC championship outright. However, they'll probably have to go the rest of the season, including the NAIA
Championship Tourney, without the services of All-GSAC center Jennifer Barbone, who apparently suffered another severe injury to her left knee, the same knee on which she had major surgery to repair torn ligaments 2 years ago.
 
Early in the second half, Barbone, who up to that point had 8 points on 4-for-7 shooting, crumpled to the floor while going for a rebound. The early prognosis does not look good for the 6-foot-2 inch Glendora native, but the knee will be fully evaluated by a doctor on Monday.
 
Barbone's injury seemingly spurred the Cougars, who led 34-25 at the half. The Cougars went a 7-0 run to assume their biggest lead of the game at 43-29 with 16:14 left to play.
 
The double-digit advantage remained throughout most of the second half until Concordia closed to within 7 at 57-50 after a Taryn Commins' free throw with 90 seconds left. However, All American Jacqueline Godoy, who to that point had missed all 3 of her 3-point shots, finally buried a trey, the Cougars' only 3-pointer of the night, to put Azusa Pacific back up by 10 at 60-50 with 1:03 remaining. From there, the Cougars held on for their 15^th win in the past 16 games.
 
Godoy led all players with 18 points.  She also had team-highs of 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Junior guards Catherine Solorio and Beth Centlivre each added 10 points. For Centlivre it was season high thanks to 4-of-7 shooting off the bench.
 
Azusa Pacific committed just 14 turnovers while forcing Concordia into 24 miscues and just 39% (17-for-44) shooting from the floor.
 
With the win, the Cougars improve to 19-6 overall, 15-1 in the GSAC. Concordia falls to 13-14 overall, 9-7 in the GSAC.