by AZUSA, Calif. – Azusa Pacific started its season strong with a decisive 75-50 win over Cal Poly Pomona at the Felix Event Center Friday evening. After a slow start, the Cougars surged in the second half, especially in the third quarter, where they outscored the Broncos 29-10 to secure the lead.
Kelly Heimburger led the Cougars on both ends of the court, scoring 10 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and blocking four shots. Lauren Jones had a standout shooting performance with a career-high 18 points, connecting on six of her 10 three-point attempts. Amayah Kirkman added 15 points, pulled down seven rebounds, and tallied two steals. Audrey Sayoc orchestrated the offense with nine assists while also adding nine points and four rebounds, and Sabrina Belquist provided a lift off the bench with eight points and three boards.
How It Happened: The Cougars found themselves trailing 21-11 after the first quarter as Cal Poly Pomona hit their stride early. In the second quarter, the Cougars turned up their defensive pressure, limiting the Broncos to just eight points while scoring 19 to take a narrow 30-29 lead into halftime.
The third quarter was the turning point, with the Cougars hitting eight three-pointers and outscoring Cal Poly Pomona 29-10 to build a commanding 20-point lead. With this cushion, the Cougars kept their intensity high, outscoring the Broncos 16-11 in the fourth quarter and securing the 25-point victory.
By the Numbers: Azusa Pacific’s three-point shooting was a key factor, as the team shot 37.8% from beyond the arc, hitting 14 of their 37 attempts. The Cougars’ ball movement and unselfish play also shined, as they recorded 16 assists on their 25 field goals. Azusa Pacific capitalized on turnovers as well, scoring 19 points off 21 Cal Poly Pomona turnovers. The Cougars were strong on the boards, pulling down 45 rebounds to the Broncos’ 50, with 14 of those rebounds coming on the offensive glass to generate 14 second-chance points.
