AZUSA, Calif.-- This is more like it.

Azusa Pacific, which has seemingly been in a funk the past 3 games, pulled it together in a big way tonight as they opened the game with a flurry and then put it on cruise control in a 77-49 GSAC win over Fresno Pacific Thursday night in Azusa.

The win is the Cougars second in a row and moves them to 15-5 overall, 7-2 GSAC. Fresno Pacific suffers its fourth straight defeat and falls to 9-9, 2-6.

“We have been up-and-down since Christmas,” said Azusa Pacific head coach Danelle Liles. “I’m not sure what exactly is going on maybe we are hitting that point in the season where players are becoming a little lethargic, but they really pulled together and played with passion tonight.”

This one was never in doubt as the Cougars opened by scoring 11 of the game’s first 13 points and never let the lead slip below 7 points before blowing it open with a 12-0 run midway through the first half.

Freshmen Ashley Oakes and Sarah Leathers started together in the backcourt for the second straight game. Together, they got the Cougars started.

Oakes finished with 10 points and hit the opening bucket of the game. Denise Fast answered on the next possession, and that was the last time the Sunbirds threatened. Sarah Leathers scored all 9 of her points over the next 1:31 sandwiching a pair of treys around a conventional 3-point play.

“Both Ashley and Sarah played great tonight,” said Liles. “Their confidence is so high right now. They are working really hard and it’s starting to pay off. I’m excited about the way they are playing.”

Monica Somers finished with a game-high 19 points. Her first 2 came on a jumper with 13:51 to play and triggered a 12-0 run over the next 6:02 that turned a 15-7 lead into a 27-8 cushion with 7:49 remaining. Two possessions later, Somers hit another jumper to give the Cougars a 20-point (31-11) lead. The Cougars led by at least 20 the rest of the night.

“We played defense tonight, and that was the difference,” said Liles. “Our defense definitely created our offense and that gave us energy. We did a good job communicating and rotating. Our pressure really bothered them.”

The Cougar defense was indeed exceptional. They forced 28 turnovers, off which they scored 28 points, and they held the Sunbirds to just 27.3% (15-for-55) from the floor. The Cougars also outscored the Sunbirds, 44-10, in the paint.

As has been the case most of the season, the Cougars were balanced offensively. Somers and Oakes were the only Cougars in double-figures, although all 9 Cougars that played scored at least 4 points.

Kelsey Hudson finished with 9 points, etching her name into the Cougar record books as she becomes just the 13th Cougar ever to join the 1,000-point club with 1,001 points.

Leathers added 5 assists and 3 steals to go along with her 9 points. Her first steal of the night set up her 3-point play in the opening minutes.

Three Sunbirds—Fast, Anna Horn and Melissa Montoya all finished with 11 points.