FRESNO, Calif. -- Lindsey West and Monica Somers combined for 53 points and 14 rebounds to lead the NAIA’s No. 19-ranked Azusa Pacific to a 83-75 season-opening win over Holy Names, ranked No. 12 in NAIA Division II, at the Fresno Pacific Holiday Classic.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 1-0, while Holy Names suffers its first loss and falls to 2-1.

The Cougars nearly led wire-to-wire, including a 42-26 halftime lead, and built a hefty double-digit lead before the Hawks mounted a late charge to make the final appear closer than the game actually was.

Somers finished with a game-high 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the floor. She also hit a trio of 3-pointers and was 3-for-4 from the free throw line.

Two-time All-GSAC West finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds. She was 10-for-13 from the floor as the Cougars shot 56.7% (34-for-60) from the floor getting several lay-ups the entire night.

Kelsey Hudson and Jaclyn Rice both added 8 points. Rice hit a pair of treys. Lindsey Rice chipped in with 6 points and 10 rebounds in her first game as a Cougar.