by IRVINE, Calif. – Azusa Pacific improved to 10-3 overall and 4-0 in PacWest play, as the Cougars were in full control throughout their 75-56 road victory at Concordia on Saturday afternoon.
Amiyah Kirkman and Kelly Heimburger both scored a team-high 13 points, while TyLee Manuel added 12 points. The Cougars had a season-best 18 steals in the game, led by five from Paige Uyehara and four by Sydney Hani.
How It Happened: The Cougars took control of the contest early on, opening up with a 7-0 run through the first four and a half minutes of action. Azusa Pacific took its first double-digit lead of the game on an Audrey Sayoc layup that made it 15-4 (4:11 1st Q). At the end of the first quarter, the Cougars held a 19-11 advantage.
The Cougars kept their foot on the gas to open the second quarter, taking a lead as large as 23 points at 42-19 with 2:40 to go before halftime. Azusa Pacific took a 48-30 lead into halftime, on the strength of 48% shooting from the floor (17-for-35) and an 11-for-12 performance at the charity stripe, while the Cougars forced the Golden Eagles into 15 first half turnovers. The Cougars scored 19 points off of the Concordia miscues.
Azusa Pacific maintained full control of the game throughout the second half, with the Cougars lead remaining at 16 or more throughout the entirety of the third and fourth quarters. In the fourth quarter, the margin remained at 19 or more points.
By the Numbers: The Cougars posted their second-best team shooting percentage this season, finishing at 47.5% on 28-for-59 shooting. The Cougars also matched their second-most free throw attempts this season, going 15-for-20 (75%). Defensively, Azusa Pacific forced Concordia into 25 turnovers, which the Cougars turned into 29 points. The Golden Eagles committed the second-most turnovers by a Cougar opponent this season. Azusa Pacific did not trail in the game, and the lone tie of the contest was at 0-0. The Cougars led for a total of 35 minutes.
