AZUSA, Calif. -- Competing in front of their home fans for the first time this season, Azusa Pacific's Acrobatics and Tumbling team improved to 2-0 on the season with a 276.965-264.280 victory over the sixth-ranked Hawai'i Pacific Sharks Tuesday night at the Felix Event Center.

Much as they did in their opening meet two weeks ago, the Cougars slowly built their lead throughout the evening, winning the first eight heats of the night.  In the compulsory event, the Cougars put up a 9.90 in the toss heat for the second meet in a row, and enjoyed a lead of nearly two and a half points at the end of the compulsories.  That advantage would grow to nearly four points with a 29.30 score in the acro event.  Each acro heat for the Cougars scored at least a 9.75.

Hawai'i Pacific came back with a narrow win in the pyramid event, shaving a tenth of a point off the Cougars' lead at halftime, with Azusa Pacific holding a 95.55-91.85 advantage at intermission.  But the Cougars would bounce back, winning every heat the rest of the way.  In the toss event, the Cougars put up a 9.80 in the 450 salto toss, and finished the event with a 9.70 in the open toss, winning the event by a margin of 1.7 points to stretch their advantage to over five and a half heading into the tumbling event.

Just like in their first meet, the Cougars again pulled away with outstanding scores in the solo tumbling passes.  All three solo passes scored above a 9.80 with a trio of juniors each improving on the effort of the tumbler before them.   Beth Magee scored a 9.850 in the aerial tumbling pass.  In the 6-element pass, Jessica Gill worked that score up to a 9.875.  And in the open tumbling pass that concluded the event, Gabby Spencer recorded the highest score the Cougars have received on any single heat this season, with a 9.95.

In all, the Cougars won the tumbling event with a 56.875 out of a possible 60 points, stretching their overall advantage over the Sharks to just over nine points heading into the team event.  In that team event, Azusa Pacific added to their advantage with a 95.84 score, providing the final margin.

Off to a 2-0 start for the third consecutive season, the fourth-ranked Cougars face their toughest test yet in their next meet when they host second-ranked Oregon, who won the national title each of the first four years of the sport's existence.  Coach Colleen Kausrud embraced the challenge ahead of her team.  "I think we have one of the most confident teams we've had in a long time.  Going into Oregon, I feel like we really are the better team, and if they can put it out on the floor like they did tonight for the most part, I think we'll do well.  I'm looking forward to it."

The Cougars and Ducks will take to the mats in the Felix Event Center on Thursday, February 27, at 7:00 p.m