AZUSA, Calif. – Back at home. Same old result.
Playing at home for the first time in the last four games, the Azusa Pacific kept their triumphant ways rolling with a 98-43 victory against Fresno Pacific.
It is the fifth straight PacWest win for the No. 23 Cougars as they upped their record to 17-3 overall and 11-1 in league game. The victory marks Azusa Pacific's 13th straight against the Sunbirds (2-16, 0-12).
Leading the way in the victory was Allison Greene's 18-point effort. The senior went 4-for-4 from behind the arc with a team best four steals in just 22 minutes. During her 24 minutes on the floor, Miriam Zabinsky went 6-of-8 from the field, and made both her three-point attempts, as she notched 14 points.
Every player who dressed Saturday, got into the game. The Cougar reserves accounted for 39 of their points led by Lauren Gilster's 11 points. Elena Ala also provided quite a spark off the bench with a season high nine assists in 20 minutes.
The Cougars forced the Sunbirds into a season high 37 turnovers in the rout as they posted a 45-8 edge in points off turnovers. After allowing Fresno Pacific to score 20 points in the first quarter, the Cougars held the Sunbirds to nine or fewer points in the final three quarters. Azusa Pacific had a season high 21 steals.
In a game that was never in doubt, Azusa Pacific connected on exactly 50 percent of their shots in both halves. The Cougars took 40 shots from the floor in the opening 20 minutes before taking 38 in the final two quarters.
From behind the arc, the Cougars were equally efficient as they nailed half of their 28 attempts. The 14 made three-pointers is the second most made this season.
The 55-point win is the largest in PacWest play for Azusa Pacific. The margin of victory eclipses the previous mark of 54 points set early this season against Notre Dame de Namur.
On Monday the Cougars host Hawaii Pacific in a critical conference contest at 5:30 p.m. The Sharks are currently tied for third in the league standings after win both the PacWest regular season and tournament titles last season.
