FRESNO, Calif. – The Cougars defense stood strong.
Azusa Pacific set season best defensive marks in their 71-44 road win against Fresno Pacific on Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars defense set their season best mark for lowest scoring output by the opposition. Azusa Pacific limited the Sunbirds (5-21, 2-16 PacWest) to just 14 made field goals and just a 24.7 percent shooting effort. Both numbers represent a Cougars defensive best effort for the season.
"Playing a strong defensive game was definitely something we emphasized," head coach T.J. Hardeman said. "I think our defense really helped all facets of our effort tonight."
Individually, Gabrielle Kaiser posted her third double-double of the season with a 23-point, 11-rebound afternoon. Abigail Kaiser added 13 points and seven assists with three steals in 36 minutes. Zoe March, in her return to the Central Valley, contributed 11 points.
Azusa Pacific raced out to a 9-0 less than four minutes into the contest. During the first quarter the Cougars limited Fresno Pacific to just a 27 percent shooting effort in taking a 15-7 after the opening stanza. The home team made a comeback in the second period as they cut their deficit down to two points (22-20). The Cougars (14-12, 12-6) proceeded to shrug off the comeback attempt by scoring 13 of the period's final 16 points to take a 36-23 lead at the break.
The Cougars continued to hold a double figure lead as the third quarter unfolded. They eventually took a lead as large as 20 points (48-28) before settling into a comfortable 53-37 lead with 10 minutes left in the contest. In the final quarter Azusa Pacific's defense didn't let up as they limited the home team to just seven points.
Next week the Cougars look to wrap-up a PacWest tournament berth as they travel to Notre Dame de Namur and Academy of Art to conclude the regular season.
"We want to be trending in the right direction and playing our best basketball by the season's end," Hardeman said. "We need to go to the bay area with the mindset to keep getting better."
