AZUSA, Calif. — The Azusa Pacific women's basketball team returns to the Felix Event Center tonight for a non-conference matchup, hosting the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.
The Cougars (5-4) are looking to carry the momentum from a blazing performance last night into their final game of the calendar year as they welcome a winless Alaska-Fairbanks squad (0-8) that is searching for its first victory of the season during a difficult road stretch in Southern California.
SERIES HISTORY
Tonight's contest marks a historic moment for both programs, as it is the first-ever meeting between Azusa Pacific and Alaska-Fairbanks. While the teams are unfamiliar with one another, the Felix Event Center has remained a favorable venue for the Cougars this season, where they have secured critical wins to stay above .500.
PREVIEWING THE COUGARS
Azusa Pacific enters tonight's game firing on all cylinders following a dominant 91-55 victory over Chaminade just yesterday. The Cougars' offense reached a fever pitch in that contest, opening the game on a 21-0 run and never looking back.
The offensive charge is led by senior guard
Lauren Jones, who is coming off a career night where she set new personal bests in points (21) and three-pointers made (7). Jones leads the team with 12.3 points per game and is a constant threat from the perimeter. Facilitating the attack is graduate guard
Audrey Sayoc, who serves as the team's primary floor general, averaging nearly five assists per game while providing elite defensive pressure with 2.56 steals per contest.
In the paint, sophomore forward
Rachel Roderick has been a force, leading the team in rebounding (7.6 RPG) and ranking among the region's top shot-blockers with 2.89 blocks per game.
SCOUTING THE NANOOKS
The Nanooks arrive in Azusa looking to snap an eight-game slide to start the season. Alaska-Fairbanks has struggled offensively during their current road trip, but they possess individual talent capable of keeping games competitive if they find their rhythm early.
The Nanooks' attack is spearheaded by sophomore guard
Tamai Mancuso, who averages a team-high 14.9 points per game and is responsible for nearly 40% of the team's made three-pointers this season. Forward
Ashlyn Waggoner provides the interior presence for UAF, leading the squad in rebounding with 5.5 boards per game while contributing 7.5 points per contest. Junior guard
Alycia Shelley serves as the primary distributor, averaging 2.3 assists per game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Lauren Jones (Azusa Pacific): In an expanded role this season, the senior has been lethal from beyond the arc in her last three games nailing 12 of her 22 attempts for an elite 54% clip. Her seven made threes last game were the most by a Cougar since Kayla Shaw's seven against Point Loma on Dec. 18, 2021.
TRENDING STATS
- APU: Perimeter Explosion — The Cougars are coming off a game where they drained a staggering 17 three-pointers against Chaminade, with Lauren Jones accounting for seven of those triples alone.
- UAF: Waggoner's Glass Cleaning — Despite the team's recent struggles, Ashlyn Waggoner has trended upward on the boards, coming off a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double in the Nanooks' last outing against Saint Martin's.
- APU: Bench Depth — Over the last three games, the Cougar bench has been a major factor, highlighted by Elyse Mitchell's career-high 18 points in a 72-40 victory over Menlo earlier this month.
- UAF: Defensive Struggles — The Nanooks' defense has faced elite competition recently, allowing an average of 85.6 points per game over their last three contests against Saint Martin's, Western Oregon, and St. Cloud State.
KEYS TO THE GAME
- Perimeter Defense: The Nanooks rely heavily on the three-point shot from Mancuso. APU's perimeter defenders must contest shots early to prevent UAF from finding an early rhythm from deep.
- Dominating the Glass: With Rachel Roderick (7.6 RPG) and Keisharna Lucas (6.6 RPG), the Cougars have a clear size advantage. Controlling the boards will be vital to preventing second-chance opportunities for the visitors.
- Early Momentum: APU is coming off a game where they started 21-0. Repeating a fast start at the Felix Event Center will be crucial to wearing down a Nanooks team playing their third game in two weeks.
