LA MIRADA, Calif. – Zoe March couldn't believe that no one was going to stop her.
Azusa Pacific scored the last four points of the game, including a March game winning lay-up in the waning seconds, to post a thrilling 68-65 win against Biola on Saturday evening.
In a contest that was more than worthy of this long standing rivalry, the No. 18 Cougars shook off a rough shooting night with an energetic defensive effort as they upped their record to 22-3 overall and 13-2 in PacWest games.
HOW IT HAPPENED: It was a game of runs throughout. Each team put together multiple scoring sprees but it was the last three minutes that will be remembered.
With Biola trailing 60-57 after a March lay-up, they came down and Danielle Kennedy hit a three-pointer with 2:46 left to tie the score for the ninth, but not the last, time. Abbigail Goodsell put the lead back in the Cougars hands with a pair of shots from the charity stripe moments later. After each team had empty possessions, Biola (10-10, 7-7) took the lead when Sara Dougan hit a shot from deep at the top of the key. The atmosphere inside Chase Gymnasium was at a fever pitch as the home team held a 63-62 lead with 39 ticks left.
Azusa Pacific came down on their next possessions and re-took the advantage (64-63) when Gabrielle Kaiser hit an acrobatic lay-up with 25 seconds remaining. The Eagles went back in front when DeMoria White hit a pair of free throws just 11 seconds later.
After a Cougars timeout, they worked a perfect out-of-bounds play which gave March a clear path to the basket that Moses himself would have been jealous off. It gave the Cougars a 66-65 lead. It was the 12th and final lead change of the game. Biola turned the ball over on their next possession and Kaiser cleaned up a March miss shot with a lay-up with a second left. The Eagles never got off a desperation attempt.
QUOTABLE: "That was awesome. Just awesome. The energy from both crowds was amazing and to be good you have to be able to win those types of games. We didn't get every call and we didn't shoot well but we didn't hang our heads and we continued to keep playing with energy," said head coach T.J. Hardeman. "There was no quit in this team."
From Zoe March … "Since being in college this was the best atmosphere I played in. My back was to the basket so and as I received the ball in my head I just said that I am going for it. Either I was going to draw a foul or get the wide open lay-up. Then when I turn towards the basket and see it is wide open I am thinking that 'is this a joke? Did we not start?' And I got the lay-up then the steal. And that was defense at the end that sealed the win."
From Abbigail Goodsell … "I love when we get crowds like this. I feed off it and this team feeds off it. It was just awesome. In huddles I always say that when our shots aren't falling we need to find other ways to win. And the energy and the defense was what gave us the win tonight."
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Azusa Pacific connect on 36.1 percent (26-for-72) from the field, including 21.4 percent (6-for-28) from behind the arc.
- Down low the Cougars dominated scoring as they held a 36-14 edge for points in the paint
- The Cougars forced 22 turnovers which held them to a 23-10 advantage in points off turnovers. Azusa Pacific had just 10 turnovers
- March and Goodsell each had a game high 17 points
PACWEST IMPLICATIONS: Azusa Pacific remains in second place behind Hawai'i Pacific. They are just a game back in the loss column.
UP NEXT: The Cougars have another week between games as they host Dominican on Saturday, Feb. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
