AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific utilized stifling defense to run their winning streak to three with a 74-45 victory over Concordia Thursday evening at the Felix Event Center.

The Cougars led wire-to-wire, with Zoe March scoring the first five points of the game and the team as a whole opening with a 13-2 run and a 17-8 edge at the end of the first quarter.  Concordia would chip away at the deficit throughout the second quarter, coming as close as four points with one minute remaining in the first half. But March would close the half with back-to-back baskets, pushing the lead to 36-28 at intermission.

Those four points to end the first half were the start of a 20-4 run that would span the majority of the third quarter, pushing the Cougars' advantage to 52-32, and the Eagles would not get closer than 18 the rest of the way.

Savanna Hanson lead the Cougars offensively with 21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Alex Lowden had a career-high seven steals and four assists off the bench.  Zoe March (14 points) and Molly Whitmore (10 points) also scored in double figures for Azusa Pacific, many of them on layups sparked by effective ball movement.  The Cougars had 27 assists on 32 made field goals. Azusa Pacific shot 46% (32-for-70) overall, and 38% (8-for-21) from three. Of the Cougars' eigth triples, Hanson and Rachel Bozlee combined for six of them, with each knocking down three in the contest. The Cougars posted a huge advantage inside, as Azusa Pacific scored 42 points in the paint, compared to just 20 points for Concordia.

Defensively, Azusa Pacific also got six blocks and eight rebounds from Laura Pranger as part of a group effort that forced 23 Concordia turnovers and held the Eagles to 27.6% shooting from the field for the night, including just 4-27 (14.8%) in the second half. From the 23 forced turnovers, the Cougars were able to turn it into 25 points. Azusa Pacific also kept the Eagles out of transition, as Concordia only scored six fast break points.

With the win, the Cougars (12-3, 6-3 PacWest) improve to 9-0 against Concordia in the NCAA Division II era (2012-present).  They now have a week off before their current four-game home stand continues against Hawai'i Hilo on Thursday, January 16.  Tipoff in the Event Center is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.