SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The All-GSAC triumvirate of Stephanie Patten, Catherine Solorio and Jacqueline Godoy combined for 56 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the NAIA's No. 22-ranked Azusa Pacific to a 74-62 GSAC victory over Westmont Saturday night.
 
The Cougars put together a 21-8 run that stretched across both halves to blow open a tight game and cruise on in for their fifth straight victory.  Azusa Pacific caught fire and made 11-of-17 shots over a 14-minute period to stretch out to a 64-43 lead with 11 minutes left in the game.  Patten took advantage of a short Westmont frontline to tally a game-high 23 points on 6-for-9 shooting.  Godoy added 19 points to go along with game-highs of 7 rebounds and 8 assists.  Solorio, the Cougars' leading scorer chipped in with 14 points.
 
"We played a very good first 34 minutes," said Azusa Pacific head coach Matt Elofson.  "The entire team did all the little things in terms of defense, rebounding and making the extra pass."
 
Patten scored 8 of her 17 first-half points in the final 2:10 of the half, propelling the Cougars on a 13-4 run in which they turned a 31-29 lead into a 44-33 halftime cushion.  Azusa Pacific trailed by as much as 6 (16-10 at the 13:10 mark) in the early going.  The Cougars assumed the lead for good at 25-23 on a Godoy jumper with just over 7 minutes left in the half.  The Warriors stayed within a 2-point reach until the Cougar defense ignited the first-half closing run by limiting the Warriors to just 2 field goals in the final 3 minutes.
 
"I sensed Westmont was getting tired late in the half," added Elofson, "so I challenged the ladies to put an extra effort and take the lead to 10 before halftime.  They responded."
 
From there, the Cougars put the game in cruise control, never allowing Westmont any closer than the final 12-point margin of victory.
 
Katie Hughes and Katie Hardeman led Westmont with 13 points apiece.
 
With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 14-4 overall, 8-2 in the GSAC, keeping pace with Fresno Pacific for the GSAC lead.  Westmont falls to 11-7 overall, 6-4 in the GSAC, 2 games behind Azusa Pacific and Fresno Pacific.