AZUSA, Calif.-- The NAIA’s No. 18-ranked Azusa Pacific scored 21 straight points at the end of the first half to blow open what was a close game before cruising to 87-30 non-conference win over visiting Bethany Saturday in the Felix Event Center.

Kelsey Hudson led all players with 21 points. She also added 6 rebounds.

With the win, the Cougars improve to 7-2 overall with their fourth straight win. Meanwhile, the Bruins, from Scotts Valley, Calif., fall to 1-9.

The Cougars forced the Bruins into 35 turnovers, including 22 in the first half alone, and they held Bethany to a measley 27.1% (13-for-48) from the floor. Vanessa Irving led the Bruins with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Four other Bruins combined for just 13 points.

Both teams stumbled out of the gate after playing games late yesterday. The Cougars downed NCAA Division I UC Davis less than 20 hours earlier, while the Bruins lost at Christian Heritage. The teams combined for 10 turnovers in the first 1:27 of the game before Kristina Gates hit a jumper for the first points of the afternoon at the 18:14 mark. Just a minute later Danielle Smith put the Cougars on the board, and they never trailed again.

Irving connected on a jumper with 8:26 to play to bring the Bruins within 3 at 12-9 when the Cougars, keyed by Hudson and Monica Somers, raced to 21 straight points holding the Bruins scoreless for a 5:25 span. When the dust settled, the Cougars led 33-9 with 3:20 to play in the half, and they carried a 37-13 lead into the lockeroom.

The Bruins scored the first bucket of the second half before the Cougars went on a 20-5 run, capped by a Hudson jumper, to open a 37-point (57-20) lead with 14:05 to play. They continued to push the envelope increasing the margin and outscoring the Bruins, 50-17, in the second half.

Five of the 8 Cougars that played finished with double-figures. Smith added a career-high 15 points, hitting 7-of-8 from the floor. Somers also had 15.

Lindsay Rice finished with 10 points, a team-high 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Alyssa Ferdaszewski added 10 points. The Cougars collected 18 steals and tallied 24 assists on 37 field goals. They also shot 58.7% (37-for-63) from the floor.