SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Point Loma Nazarene used a 10-2 spurt at the start of the second half to blow open a close game and run away from Azusa Pacific for a 76-62 win in the Cougars' GSAC opener in San Diego.
The loss is the Cougars' second straight GSAC-opening setback to the Sea Lions as Point Loma knocked off the Cougars, 78-64, in last year's opener in Azusa. It also the Cougars' eighth loss in the past 9 games in San Diego.
The Crusaders led 42-41 after an entertaining first half where the Cougars buried 9-of-19 3-pointers to stay close. The Cougars actually led for the first 12 minutes of the contest before the Sea Lions used a 12-3 run to open up a 7-point (34-27) cushion with 5:07 to play. Monica Somers and Nicolette Dresback hit back-to-back treys to climb within one before the half ended.
Leading by one, Point Loma took advantage of 5 Cougar turnovers in the first 3 minutes to surge ahead with a 10-2 run that turned a 42-41 advantage into a comfortable 52-43 lead. The Sea Lions limited the Cougars to just 2 field goals in the first 6 minutes of the second half as they assumed control of the contest.
Trailing 55-45 with 14:04 to play, All-GSAC sophomore Lindsey West scored 8 of the Cougars' 10 points in a 10-5 mini run that brought them within 5 (60-55) with 9:37 to play. However, a 3-pointer by Jessica Mercado followed by a 3-point play by Kelsi Sousa kick-started an 8-point Sea Lion outburst that opened up an insurmountable 13-point (68-55) lead with 6:34 to play. The Cougars got no closer than 10 points the rest of the way.
After torching the nets in the first half, the Cougars were held without a 3-pointer the entire second half misfiring on all 10 of their attempts. The Cougars shot just 8-for-32 (.250) in the second half and committed 13 of their 24 turnovers.
West finished with a team-high 20 points, hitting 9-of-13 shots from the floor. Marie Dyk and Jaclyn Rice each added 10. Mercado took home game-high honors, pouring in 24 points, followed by Ali Greenaway's 21.
With the loss, Azusa Pacific drops to 4-3 overall, 0-1 GSAC. Point Loma Nazarene improves to 3-3 overall, 1-1 GSAC.
