AZUSA, Calif. – A frantic finish sent the Felix Event Center crowd home happy for the final time in 2025 as the Cougars rallied for a 72-65 victory over Point Loma Saturday afternoon.

How It Happened:  Point Loma had all the answers early, building an 18-7 lead with a strong run during the first quarter.  The Cougars fought back to within eight by the end of the period, but the Sea Lions scored the first three points of the second to regain that double-digit edge at 23-12.

That was the moment the home team woke up.  Lauren Jones scored five straight points in quick succession.  After trading baskets for a few minutes, Audrey Sayoc went on a 9-0 run by herself with a pair of threes, a layup, and a free throw, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game, and two more threes from Elyse Mitchell and Jones let the Cougars take a 36-32 lead into the locker rooms.

The Cougars would stretch their advantage to as many as eight over the first half of the third quarter before the Sea Lions rallied again.  Point Loma briefly regained the lead before a Keisharna Lucas triple beat the third quarter buzzer to leave the Cougars clinging to a 52-50 edge going into the final ten minutes.

The Sea Lions quickly knotted the score in the fourth and the game went back and forth for a while until the Sea Lions had a 65-62 lead with 2:52 remaining.  The Cougar defense stiffened, keeping Point Loma off the board the rest of the way.  Meanwhile, Rachel Roderick made three free throws to tie the contest.  After another stop, Sayoc drove into the paint for a layup with 1:45 left that put the Cougars ahead for good; and they were able to salt the game away at the free throw line while holding Point Loma scoreless on their final eight possessions of the game.

By the Numbers:  Sayoc finished with a career-high 28 points, to go along with 7 steals and 4 assists.  Roderick had a double-double, collecting 12 points, 12 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.  Jones had 10 points and 7 rebounds, knocking down all 4 of her free throw attempts.  In a game where both teams shot 32 free throws, it was the shooting performances from beyond the arc that proved the difference, and there the Cougars were 10-22 while holding the Sea Lions to just 4-24.  Azusa Pacific forced 24 turnovers, including 4 during the final 3 minutes of the game.  All-time, the Cougars lead the all-time series 72-42, and have won 11 of the last 13.

Up Next:  Azusa Pacific (7-4, 3-1 PacWest) will take the rest of the holiday season off and resume play next Saturday, January 3rd.  On that day, they will head up the coast to Westmont for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.