Box Score ST. GEORGE, Utah – And the starters will lead the way.
Every starter scored in double figures as Azusa Pacific posted a 73-61 win over Dixie State on Saturday evening.
It is the first time this season the Cougars have placed five players in double figure scoring as Azusa Pacific ran their all-time record to 5-0 against Dixie State.
"I'm really pleased with how the starting five played together. They did a good job not only scoring the ball but rebounding and defending as well," said head coach T.J. Hardeman. "Anything you can get a road win during conference play, it's a good game."
Maggie Dumphy continued her solid play of late for the Cougars (10-5, 6-3 PacWest) with a team high 18-point effort on the strength of a 9-for-14 shooting night. It is the second straight contest she has scored in double figures and the fourth time in the last six games.
Cydnie Jones was equally as good with her third double-double of the season by scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. It is her second double-double in the last three games. The junior also dished out a game high six assists.
"Maggie and Cydnie have really been playing well lately. Tonight they took advantage of what was given to them and each of them played with a good effort on both sides of the floor," Hardeman said.
Miriam Zabinsky just missed her second double-double of the year by scoring 15 and corralling nine rebounds. Kelly Hardeman scored in double figure for the 15th time in 16 games with a 15-point performance. Katie Powell rounded out the scoring for the Cougars by notching 10 points in 33 minutes.
A back-and-forth first half was taken control late as Azusa Pacific rode that rally to victory. While the Cougars raced out to an early 10-point advantage 19-9, neither team held a double digit lead the rest of the opening frame. Despite the early deficit Dixie State (5-10, 4-5) rallied with 13 consecutive points as they took their first lead of the game 22-19 just past the halfway point of the stanza.
Azusa Pacific rallied after the home team's scoring spree and took the lead for good 30-29 with 2:51 left until the halftime horn. A Hardeman lay-in with 21 ticks left in the half were the final points in the first half as the Cougars took a 36-33 lead at the break.
After trading field goals for the first few minutes of the final half, the Cougars began to pull away from the Red Storm. Already holding a 44-39 lead with 14:55 left on the clock, Azusa Pacific scored seven of the next eight points to push their advantage to 51-40 with just under 13 minutes remaining.
Hardeman looked to give the Cougars complete control of the game as she nailed a three-pointer with 8:23 left in the contest to give her squad their largest lead of the night 59-48. The home team had one final scoring run left in them and cut their deficit to 61-58 with 3:51 left in the game. However, the Cougars would have no part in the Red Storms revival.
Azusa Pacific's defense clamped down at the most important time and the offense stepped it up. The Cougars held Dixie State to one field goal down the stretch as Azusa Pacific concluded the game on a 12-3 scoring spurt.
With 11 conference games left on the schedule, the Cougars will start next week no worse than tied for fourth place in the PacWest. Azusa Pacific entertains Point Loma on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. before hosting Dixie State on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
