AZUSA, Calif.-- Senior guard Savanna Hanson scored a game-high 27 points to lead Azusa Pacific to its fourteenth PacWest win Saturday afternoon in the Felix Event Center, as the Cougars posted an 89-72 victory against Dominican. 

It wasn't until the third quarter when the Cougars turned a 12 point lead into an 18 point advantage to help Azusa Pacific solidify its hold on another conference win. With the win, Azusa Pacific improves 14-4 in PacWest play and 20-4 overall. 

How It Happened: 
Offensively, the Cougars posted advantages in multiple categories. From the floor, Azusa Pacific went 36-for-79 (45.6%). From beyond the arc, the Cougars knocked down eight of their attempts. Azusa Pacific forced Dominican into 21 turnovers, and the Cougars finished with 29 points off of those turnovers. The Cougars finished with just nine turnovers committed, and the Penguins were able to take advantage of the miscues for only eight points.  

How It Happened: 
The Cougars opened the contest with back to back baskets, as Pranger scored in the paint to help set the tone early for Azusa Pacific. Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 23-11 lead after the opening quarter, and the lead remained consistent throughout the second quarter before finishing the half with a 45-33 advantage.

Coming out of the half, Dominican attempted to chip away at the Cougar's lead with back to back baskets, but shots fell more consistently for Azusa Pacific as it turned an eight point edge into an eighteen point lead to finish the quarter, 66-48. The Cougars then jumped out to its largest lead of 22 points in the final frame to seal the 89-72 victory.

Azusa Pacific Standouts: 
Hanson scored 18 of her 27 points in the second half, and beat her season scoring high by going 10-for-16 from the field and 5-for-7 from behind the arc. Hanson also finished with eight rebounds and a block. Two other Cougars finished in double figures, as freshman Molly Whitmore collected 12 points, seven rebounds, and a steal while senior Laura Pranger added 11 points, three rebounds, and three blocks.

Dominican Standouts: Jerusha Paine, the nation's leading scorer, did all she could for the Penguins, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds, and two assists. Also leading for Dominican was Brittney Cedeno, who posted 22 points, six rebounds, and two steals.

What's Next:
The Cougars will close out the 2020 regular season home events on Thursday, Feb. 20, when Azusa Pacific will welcome Academy of Art for a 5:15 p.m. tip-off. The contest will be the final time that six seniors will take the court in the Felix Event Center. Zoe March, Savanna Hanson, Daylee Hanson, Ana Resendiz, Cierra Roufosee and Rachel Bozlee will be honored with an on-court ceremony.