LUBBOCK, Texas - No. 12 Azusa Pacific opened its season by putting the first notch in the win column on Friday, as the Cougars beat Colorado State Pueblo by a 66-53 final at the D2CCA Tip-Off Classic. 

Kelly Heimburger put up a game-high 20 points, while also recording two blocks and two steals on the defensive end. Paige Uyehara, who was named the PacWest Preseason Player of the Year yesterday, tallied 13 points, dished out six assists and collected a pair of steals. Amayah Kirkman finished with a team-high seven rebounds, while also scoring nine points. Sabrina Belquist, who made her Cougar debut in the contest, came off the bench to score six points, grab six rebounds, and finish with five assists.

How It Happened: At the end of the first quarter, the two teams were locked up at 12-12. The first basket of the second quarter was scored by way of a Kirkman jumper to put the Cougars up 14-12, and it turned out to be the bucket that would give Azusa Pacific the lead for good. With just about four and a half minutes remaining in the second, the Cougars held a 19-16 lead, and over the next three minutes, Azusa Pacific went on an 11-0 run to stretch the lead out to 30-16. A pair of free throws from Heimburger started the Cougars' run, and the other nine points were earned by way of a triple from Uyehara, and back-to-back possessions in which Belquist connected from deep. At the half, the Cougars held a 32-23 advantage.

In the third, Uyehara knocked down a three-pointer that gave the Cougars their largest lead of the game up to that point at 39-24, but CSU Pueblo did not let the margin grow any larger than 15 in the quarter, cutting it to single digits twice in the quarter. Heading into the fourth and final quarter of the contest, Azusa Pacific was up 50-36.

Over the first seven minutes of play in the fourth, the Cougars were able to work their lead up to 66-46 with three minutes to play, which was their largest lead of the game.

By the Numbers: Azusa Pacific was able to force the Thunderwolves into 26 turnovers, which the Cougars turned into 21 points. Meanwhile, the Cougars committed 13 turnovers, which CSU Pueblo was only able to tally five points off of turnovers. Both teams struggled to shoot from beyond-the-arc, with the Timberwolves finishing 6-for-22 (27%), and the Cougars going 5-for-25 (20%). 

Up Next: The Cougars will close out the opening weekend on Sunday, when they take to the court against West Texas A&M at 12:00 pm CT (10:00 am PT). The game can be watched live on the Lone Star Conference Network.