Second Half Slump Sinks Eagles, 75-53

Box Score 

(2/8/08 - Women's Basketball) AZUSA - Visiting Concordia shot 23.5 percent in the second half and made just 4-of-27 from three-point range as #6-ranked Azusa Pacific pulled away with a 75-53 win over the Eagles, Friday evening in the Felix Event Center.

The Eagles looked capable of the upset after the first half, staying within just three points of the Cougars. Despite allowing the Cougars to shoot 51.6 percent, the Eagles did not allow a three-pointer and hit three of their own heading into the break.

The first four minutes of the second half showed the Eagles were still serious about their threat to pick up their first road GSAC win since November. Karen Carney converted a conventional three-point play at the 16:07 mark to keep the game within one possession.

That bucket proved to be a turning point as the Cougars pulled away. By the time the clock showed 9:46, the Cougars had completed a 19-2 run that put the game out of reach. The Eagles were only able to manage a pair of free throws by Cheyenne Wallace over the 6:21 stretch and missed 11-straight shots before Nicole Fu connected on a jumper with 8:41 remaining.

For the second time this season, Abby Johnson dominated the Eagles on the inside. After going 9-for-13 for 19 points and 9 rebounds in Irvine back in early December, she connected on 13-of-19 shots this time around and tallied game-highs of 29 points and 11 rebounds. The Cougars posted a 48-16 edge in points in the paint, including a 22-6 mark in the second half.

Fu was the only Concordia player to score in double figures as she hit on 6-of-11 from the field for 15 points. Kayanna Nichols had 8 points while three others added six points. Sarah Leathers tossed in 10 points for Azusa Pacific (18-5, 10-3 GSAC).

Concordia (9-14, 3-10 GSAC) returns home this Tuesday, February 12 to host #4-ranked Vanguard with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m.