Azusa Pacific stayed a step ahead of Fresno Pacific all game to post a 5-3 win at the Golden Coast Conference tournament on Saturday afternoon.

With the victory the Cougars will play Santa Clara in the fifth place game on Sunday.

Tournament Central

In Saturday's win Azusa Pacific outshot the Sunbirds 28-24, including a 19-12 edge in shots on frame. The Cougars also forced 13 turnovers to aid in the win.

Alba Espinar found the back of the net a team best two times while Megan Myers, Britt Harris and Arianne Yeo also scored for the Cougars.

Defensively the Cougars tied a season best by giving up just three goals. Katie Margot made nine blocks in front of the cage. Britt Harris made two field blocks while Mar Pastor added another one. Pastor also drew a season high seven exclusion.

As the game flowed along the Cougars never trailed but Fresno Pacific stayed within striking distance. Espinar started the scoring less than two minutes into the contest. Alyssa Stevens scored the first of her three goals with 4:47 left in the period but the Cougars won the period as Yeo scored with just under three minute remaining.

The second period was quiet on the scoreboard but each team was called from multiple exclusions and took numerous shots. The only two goals came 18 seconds apart late in the stanza. Stevens made the score 2-2 but Harris gave the Cougars a lead heading into the game's halfway point.

Espinar scored her final goal with 6:17 left as the Cougars took their first two-goal lead. Fresno Pacific's final goal came when Stevens scored with 3:30 remaining in the third.

In the final quarter Myers scored with 6:04 left to give the Cougars their two-goal cushion. Fresno Pacific hit the post twice on scoring attempt and Margot made a save late to give the Cougars a final period shutout.