AZUSA, Calif. – Coming home for their final game of 2024, the Cougars got everyone in on the act as 11 different players scored in a 96-39 victory over Nobel University Friday evening inside the Felix Event Center.  Kelly Heimburger led the squad with 21 points as the Cougars ran their record to 10-1 on the season.

How It Happened:  It took the offense a little while to get going as the Cougars scored on only one of their first nine trips down the floor, allowing the visiting Knights to snag an early 7-2 lead.  But once the proverbial lid had been lifted off the basket courtesy of an Elyse Mitchell three, the floodgates opened.  Heimburger scored consecutive baskets to put the Cougars ahead for good, and Amayah Kirkman scored the next three baskets as the Cougars closed the quarter by scoring 15 unanswered points.

The second quarter saw the teams matching shot for shot in the first several minutes before the Cougars pulled away.  Sydney Hani scored six points in the quarter, while Azusa Pacific made four three-pointers in a span of six shot attempts to spark a 14-2 run, putting the home team ahead 39-16 before settling for a 20-point advantage at halftime.

Any doubts about the outcome were removed at the opening of the third quarter.  The Cougars made their first three shots of the second half, and would open the third quarter with 26 unanswered points, more than doubling their lead in the process.  Eight different Cougars scored in the quarter as Azusa Pacific put 37 points on the board over those 10 minutes and were able to coast in from there.

By the Numbers:  All 13 players on the Azusa Pacific roster played at least 10 minutes, and none of them reached 20.  Heimburger led the team with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.  Joining her in double figures were Hani (14 points), Mitchell (13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks), Kirkman (12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals), and Lauren Jones (10 points, 3 rebounds).  The Cougar bench notched season highs in points with 48 and rebounds with 25.  As a team, the Cougars grabbed 48 rebounds, 19 of them on the offensive end, and forced 31 turnovers, all of which helped produce their season high in points while holding the Knights to 26.4% shooting for the game.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (10-1) now gets 12 days to enjoy the Christmas season before returning to the Felix Event Center to welcome Jessup University for a PacWest game.  Tipoff on January 2nd is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.