LOS ANGELES – The win was there for the taking but the Cougars couldn't close it out.
A strong final quarter from Cal State L.A. made the difference as they posted a 64-61 win against Azusa Pacific on Tuesday evening.
The Cougars held a lead as large as 11 points late in the third quarter but couldn't hold it down the stretch. Both teams records move to 1-2 after the game.
During the final two quarters the home team nailed six of their 10 attempts from behind the arc while the Cougars connected on two of their seven shots from distance.
Tara Casey had a team high 19 points while Gabrielle Kaiser recorded 15 to round out the double figure scorers for the Cougars. In her first collegiate start Zoe March has seven points, assists and rebounds. The freshman also added three steals.
A sloppy opening quarter saw each team take small leads before the Cougars took a 14-11 edge at the quarter's final horn. During that stanza the team's combined for 17 total turnovers.
Early in the second quarter the Cougars got back-to-back-to-back three-pointers from March, Casey Wortley and Abigail Goodsell to build a 25-18 edge at the stanza's media timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Cougars drew a charge then grabbed a turnover. Goodsell got an easy lay-in with 3:45 left to put her team in front 27-18 as the home team had a three-plus minute scoring drought. The Cougars eventually took a 35-29 lead at halftime aided by five made shots from behind the arc.
Early in the third quarter the Cougars increased their lead as they converted consecutive steals into four points to take a 45-36 edge and force the home team into a timeout. Down the stretch of the quarter the Golden Eagles dwindled down their deficit as the Cougars went into the final frame with a six-point (49-43) advantage.
Cal State L.A. continued to chip away at their deficit and pulled within one-point twice then eventually tied the score (60-60) on a three-pointer with 2:45 left. After knotting-up the score, the Golden Eagles took the lead on their next possession with another shot from distance. It was their first lead since the opening quarter and the night's final lead change.
With under a minute left and trailing 63-61, the Cougars had their jumper by Kaiser rattled out of the rim. Azusa Pacific played solid defense on the Golden Eagles ensuing possession but the home team grabbed an offensive rebound after their miss shot. Cal State L.A's second chance to extend their lead went for naught after a pair of missed free throws with 4.1 seconds left.
Facing a two-point deficit with the ball, the Cougars turned the ball over on the inbounds play. Cal State L.A. made one of two foul shots on their next possession and the Cougars never had a shot to tie or win the game.
