SAN DIEGO – It may have taken the Azusa Pacific women's basketball team an extra 20 minutes to get past the effect of a turkey tryptophan lull, but the win was still earned.
After playing a lack-luster first two quarters, the Cougars picked-up their intensity in the last 20 minutes to come away with an 84-69 win against Cal State San Marcos.
The game was a part of UC San Diego's annual Thanksgiving Classic. The host Tritons and Dominican also played on Friday.
HOW IT HAPPENED: In the opening half Cal State San Marcos never trailed. They held a lead as large as 13 points late in the second quarter. What played a critical role in the comeback happened at the end of the second quarter. Down 11 with less than 30 second left, Gina Henderson had back-to-back steals less than 15 second a part as Azusa Pacific went into the locker room down 43-36.
The Cougars took their first lead of the game (47-46) on a Samantha Huddleston three-point with 4:41 left in the third quarter. The lead changed hands three times before the frame ended as the teams went into the final stanza knotted at 54-54.
Azusa Pacific scored the first seven points in the fourth quarter and never relented. Cal State San Marcos made just five field goals in the last 10 minutes as the Cougars doubled-up (30-15) the Cal State San Marcos offense.
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Casey Wortley scored a career high 20 points while also posting a career best five blocks
- Abbigail Goodsell recorded a team best 22 points
- Azusa Pacific held a 29-9 edge in points off turnovers
QUOTEABLE: "It took us the first half to get off our turkey coma but once we got off that, we were fine," said head coach T.J. Hardeman. "Defensively, we really picked up the play in the second half and that set the tone for the last 20 minutes."
On Casey Wortley - "Casey is doing a better job inside and posting up. In addition, to her scoring she had five blocks tonight. She did a good job on the post tonight and if she can give us more solid play like that underneath the basket, it makes us a more dangerous team."
UP NEXT: The Cougars play the host Tritons at 3 p.m. on Saturday to conclude the event.
