SURPRISE, Ariz. – It was anything but easy. The end result gave the Cougars their highest PacWest finish in school history.

Azusa Pacific had to rally but the win was all that mattered as they grabbed a 5-3 victory over Point Loma in the third-place match to conclude the PacWest Tournament.

Previously the program's best finish at the year-end event was fourth-place in 2014. The first year the squad first competed in the conference tournament.

With the win the Cougars up their record to 19-8 overall and will now await their NCAA Division II postseason fate. Azusa Pacific looks to be on solid footing for qualification into their first NCAA postseason. The tournament draw will be revealed on Tuesday at 5 p.m. (PDT) on NCAA.com.

It was the third meeting this season between the two schools after splitting their regular season match-ups. Last week the Sea Lions won a 5-4 affair in San Diego.

DOUBLES: Toby Miclat and Petra Ivankovic gave the Cougars their first win of the day with an 8-4 win at the No. 1 slot. The Sea Lions responded with an 8-5 victory at the No. 3 spot.

There was plenty of drama at the second position. The contest went into a tiebreaker where the duo of Carlona Cerva Bucio and Gabi Armas pulled out the extra frame.

SINGLES: Slowly but surely Azusa Pacific did enough to grab the team win.

Miclat cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 1 position for her team best 22nd win of the season. April Wong gave the Cougars their third team point. A day after celebrating her birthday the freshman nabbed a 6-4, 6-0 triumph at the No. 5 slot. The Cougar roll continued as Kara Hinton was also a straight set (6-4, 6-2) victory at the fourth spot.

Point Loma, needed to win the final three matches, go their first singles win at the No. 2 match as Bucio notched a 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Jackie Resler sealed the Cougars team win as she grinded out a 6-4, 7-5 win at the No. 6 slot.

The No. 3 match went unfinished with Point Loma's Shelby Groeneveld leading 5-1 in the third set.