Toros Find Enough Offense to Get Past Nationally-Ranked Cougars, CSUDH Wins 53-44 Over No. 16 APU

Box Score

Carson, CA - On a night when neither team could find an offensive rhythm, the Toros had just enough down the stretch to keep ahead of the NAIA's No. 16 Azusa Pacific Cougars to start off the 2007-08 season 3-0 with a 53-44 win, and getting a little revenge after last year's blowout loss in Azusa.

It was not an offensive showcase in the early going as both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net, scoring a combined 17 points over the first eight minutes of play.

After a bucket by APU's Abby Johnson with 8:52 on the clock to knot the game for the fourth time at 15-15, Michelle Kribell and Alana Bailey both got to the basket for layups with Kribell also knocking down a pair from the charity stripe to give CSUDH a six-point cushion at 21-15 with just under six minutes remaining in the half.

The Toros continued to take advantage at the free throw line, hitting six of six to finish off the half and go into intermission up 11 at 30-19.

After the break the Cougars clawed their way back into the game, cutting the Toro lead to just three at 38-35 with 9:09 left in the game on a layup by Johnson.

Jessica Liang responded for the Toros, pushing the ball after an APU turnover and making a rare appearance inside the arc to hit a jumper just behind the free throw line.

Brigayle Iglehart knocked down a free throw to push the CSUDH lead back up to double digits at 45-35 with 6:58 on the clock, but APU fought back once again and cut the deficit to six on a long-range bomb by Sarah Leathers with just over a minute remaining, but the Toro defense held the rest of the way to secure the win.

Johnson garnered game-high scoring honors with 21 points and pulled down six boards while Nikita Gordan chipped in eight points in the effort.

Iglehart and Liang were once again in double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively, while Bailey added nine points and seven rebounds in the win.

CSUDH kicks off its 2007-08 CCAA season next Friday, November 30, when they host Sonoma State at 5:30 pm.

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