AZUSA, Calif. –The Azusa Pacific women's basketball team defeated Hawai'i Hilo Thursday night, 82-70, to clinch at least a share of the PacWest regular season championship. The Cougars improve to 19-1 in PacWest play and 22-4 overall on the season.
How It Happened: The Vulcans shot 40 percent (2-for-5) from beyond the arc in the first quarter to take a 20-16 lead after the opening period. However, led by
Rachel Bozlee's four three-pointers in the next 10 minutes, Azusa Pacific roared back behind 5-for-10 shooting from the three-point line in the second quarter. The Cougars posted double-digit scoring margins in each of the next two quarters, starting with a 26-10 margin in the second quarter to take a 42-30 halftime lead.
The Cougars continued to extend the lead into the second half, using a pair of
Cierra Roufosse free throws at the 7:25 mark to go on a 12-0 run to take a 56-34 lead with 3:35 left in the third quarter. Azusa Pacific never looked back and cruised the rest of the way, leading by as many as 26 before settling for the 12-point final margin for its fifth straight PacWest victory.
Azusa Pacific Standouts: Four Cougars scored in double figures, with
Cierra Roufosse leading the way with a team-high 17 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks. Junior
Savanna Hanson added her ninth double-double on the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Rachel Bozlee finished 5-for-7 from the 3-point line, scoring all 15 of her points from long range, and
Daylee Hanson added 13 points and eight rebounds for the night.
Junior
Laura Pranger finished with four blocks on the night, which puts her one block away from tying the school single-season record for blocks. Pranger now has 77 blocks on the year, while Maggie Dumphy established the current school-record mark of 78 blocks in 2015-16.
Hawai'i Hilo Standouts: Allie Navarette lead the Vulcans with a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Teammates Maddie Beck and Alyssa Movchan each finished with 12 points.
Up Next: Azusa Pacific, now 19-1 in PacWest play, hosts the last two game of regular-season conference play next week, starting with a matchup against Academy of Art on Thursday, Feb. 28, which is followed by a Saturday clash against Dominican, which currently sits in second place in the conference with a 16-3 PacWest mark.
