SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- From the get-go, No. 5 Azusa Pacific was in control of its contest with Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday afternoon, improving to 2-0 on the young season with a 79-60 win. 

Molly Whitmore recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Kayla Shaw scored 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting (3-for-5 3FG). Joining Whitmore and Shaw in double figures were Kelly Heimburger and Alex Lowden, who contributed 12 points apiece, and Amayah Kirkman added 11 points (3-for-3 3FG). While Whitmore was the Cougars' leading rebounder, three others had six or more rebounds: Lowden (8), Kirkman (6) and Heimburger (6). Lowden finished with a game-high five assists, and Paige Uyehara dished out four. 

How it Happened: Just five minutes into the game, the Cougars had worked their way into a double-digit lead at 14-4 with 5:12 on the clock in the first quarter. Azusa Pacific continued to extend its lead, closing out the quarter with a pair of free throws from Uyehara that put the Cougars up 27-6. 

While the Coyotes cut the deficit down to below 20 points at 29-11 at the 7:01 mark in the second quarter, Heimburger sank a jumper on the Cougars' ensuing possession to make it 31-11. From that point on, Azusa Pacific's lead remained 20 or more points until a Coyote triple just before halftime made it 45-26 at the intermission. During the second quarter, the Cougars held a lead as large as 26 at 45-19 (1:47), which came on a three-pointer from Shaw.

Through the first four minutes of the third quarter, the Coyotes outscored Azusa Pacific by a 13-7 margin and the score sat at 52-32 Cougars with a little over six minutes left. 

Turning Point: With 5:12 left in the third, Whitmore scored a layup that made it 54-32 Cougars. That basket marked the start of a dominant performance by the Cougars over the remainder of the quarter, as Azusa Pacific outscored the Coyotes by a 17-4 margin to push its lead to over 30 points and secure the necessary cushion to cruise to the finish line and eventual victory. While Cal State San Bernardino outscored the Cougars by a 22-8 margin in the fourth quarter and cut the deficit down to less than 20, Azusa Pacific's effort in the third quarter kept the contest well out of reach.

By the Numbers: The Cougars shot the ball well from deep, knocking down eight of 13 attempts (62%). Overall, Azusa Pacific shot 48% (30-for-62) from the floor and 11-for-14 (79%) from the charity stripe. Azusa Pacific outrebounded Cal State San Bernardino by a 48-32 margin, which included 12 offensive rebounds for the Cougars. Azusa Pacific assisted on half of its field goals, finishing with 15 assists. 

Up Next: Azusa Pacific (2-0) has its home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 16 at 5:15 pm against Cal State Los Angeles in the Felix Event Center. Cal State Los Angeles will enter Tuesday's game with an 0-2 record.