POMONA, Calif. -- The Azusa Pacific women's basketball team started the season with a 68-53 win over Cal State San Bernardino Friday afternoon at the CCAA/PacWest Challenge hosted by Cal Poly Pomona.

Junior guard Zoe March produced game-highs of 22 points, seven assists, and three steals to lead the Cougars. Junior guard Savanna Hanson scored 11 points and sophomore forward Laura Pranger added 10 points, and both tied with junior forward Cierra Roufosse for the game-high in rebounds with nine.

With solid play in the first quarter, the Cougars gained as much as a 10-point lead, out-scoring the Coyotes 18-13. The two teams continued to battle point for point as they entered halftime with Cal State San Bernardino leading by one 30-29.

Junior guard Zoe March started the second half with a three-pointer to give the Cougars momentum offensively, and Azusa Pacific outscored the Coyotes 15-9 in the third frame.

The Cougars took control of the final period, leading by as many as 16 points to cruise to a 15-point victory. Azusa Pacific shot 48 percent (14-for-29) from the field in the second half and 40 percent (27-for-67) overall for the game, and three starters led the way by scoring in double figures.

"I was very pleased with the team's effort throughout the game," head coach T.J. Hardeman said. "We did a much better job boxing out in the second half compared to the first half, so we didn't allow them to get so many second chance opportunities."

The Cougars return to Pomona on Saturday, Nov. 10, to wrap up the CCAA/PacWest Challenge with a matchup at tournament host Cal Poly Pomona at 4:00 p.m.