LA MIRADA, Calif. -- In Saturday’s one-point loss at NCAA Division II-power Cal State Bakersfield, Azusa Pacific committed 37 turnovers.

In tonight’s GSAC-opener at Biola, the Cougars had just 13, including a mere 2 in the first half.

As a result, the NAIA’s No. 19-ranked Cougars closed the first-half with a 23-9 run to open up the game and race to a 68-53 win over the Eagles Tuesday night in La Mirada.

It was the first time the longtime rivals have opened their respective GSAC campaigns against each other.

“We took care of the ball well and did a great job defensively,” said Azusa Pacific head coach Danelle Liles. “It was a great effort all the way around. Everybody played and everyone contributed.”

Azusa Pacific improves to 4-2 overall, 1-0 GSAC. Biola falls to 2-1, 0-1. It is the Cougars 12th win over the Eagles in the past 13 meetings dating back to 1999.

Biola’s Shelby Hill scored the game’s first bucket before Alyssa Ferdaszewski buried 2 free throws to tie the game. Monica Somers then hit a jumper and the Cougars never trailed again.

Rachel Dulin hit a 3-pointer with 11:36 to play in the half to get the Eagles within 1 at 14-13, but the Cougars responded with 8 straight points on 5 free throws and a trey by Sarah Leathers over the next 3:48 to open up a 22-13 advantage.

Hill stemmed the tide momentarily with a lay-up, but the Cougars responded with consecutive field goals by Ferdaszewski, Kelsey Hudson and Somers to open up a 13-point (28-15) lead with 4:08 remaining. After Hudson hit her first trey at the 3:20 mark and Danielle Smith scored her first points with 1:44 remaining, the Cougars were in the midst of a 23-9 run to end the half and carry a 37-22 lead into the locker room. Hudson (9) and Somers (7) combined for 16 of the Cougars’ 37 first-half points.

Biola opened the second half with a 16-7 run capped by Lindsey Richelli, who scored 2 of her team-high 16 points, to get the Eagles within 6 (44-38) in the first 6:55 of the second half. But the Cougars again responded with 6 straight points to push the lead back up to 12 with 10:01 to play.

“Biola made adjustments and came out with a strong start to the second half,” said Liles. “I wasn’t concerned that we were going to give up the lead, but I was concerned with our morale, so I called a timeout and we refocused.”

The Eagles got no closer than 10 points, which they got on their very next bucket before the Cougars took off eventually opening its largest lead of the game, a 17-point margin with 22 seconds to play on a bucket by Smith.

Hudson finished with a game-high 17 points and 6 rebounds. Lindsay Rice had 12 and 5 rebounds. Somers chipped in with 11. Leathers had 9, and Ferdaszewski finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds.

While only committing 13 turnovers, the Cougars forced 27 turnovers and took full advantage with 20 steals. The outscored the Eagles, 25-12, on points off turnovers.

“We’ve been working on taking care of the ball and aside from the Bakersfield game we have done a great job at doing that,” said Liles. “Tonight was a great team effort. We were pressuring the point guards, which allowed us to cause turnovers. Our defensive rotations were exceptionally well.”

Richelli led Biola with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Hill added 12 points and 14 rebounds.