Tough loss for Cydnie Jones and the Cougars
(Azusa) – Pt. Loma needed overtime to finally shake off Azusa Pacific in a PacWest conference thriller, 68-57.
Roya Rustamzada (13 points) took control of the game for the Sea Lions in the extra period as she scored the teams first seven points. Rustamzada used her ability to drive the lane to open up her outside shot later in the overtime period.
The Cougars fought back after being down by 11-points twice in the second half to get within one with 6:46 remaining only to watch Point Loma extend their lead to seven with 3:06 left in the game.
Azusa Pacific found a way to claw back into the game with 56 seconds left as Elena Ala was the recipient of a Maggie Dumphy (9 points) pass to cut into the Pt. Loma lead. Out of a Cougar timeout, Cyndie Jones (7 assists) was able to steal a pass on the break and found Dumphy for an easy layup.
“We are going to force the tempo,” said APU head coach T.J. Hardemann. “We (APU) aren’t going to foul. We are going to trap. Fortunate to get some steals to get back in the game.”
The Sea Lions had every chance to ice the game on their final possession but Rustamzada fired her inbounds pass wide of Amy Ogren (7 points) to give Azusa Pacific one final opportunity.
After trying to decipher the Pt. Loma 2-3 zone, Kelly Hardeman found Miriam Zabinsky (9 points) in the right-corner for a spot up three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
“We got the shot we wanted,” said Hardeman about Zabinsky’s three-pointer.
For the Cougars it is the second time they have fallen to the Sea Lions this season. They previous lost on December 13 at Point Loma.
Point Loma survived an early 7-0 run by Azusa Pacific to start the game as they failed to score for the first 4:50 of the game. Sydney Tonack finally was able to hit a field-goal from the floor.
The 2-3 zone implemented by coach Bill Westphal helped keep Hardeman to just 14 points and 1-of-12 from beyond the 3-point arc.
“We were out of sync offensively,” Hardeman said. “We didn’t get to the spots we wanted to get to. Pt. Loma played well defensively.”
Jessica Escorza the Sea Lions leading score heading into the game, was held to just 12 points with seven of those points coming from the charity line.
The loss drops APU to 10-7 on the season and 6-4 in the PacWest Conference. They face Dixie State on Saturday afternoon at 1pm.
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