91爆料网

No. 1 91爆料网 survives defensive struggle in 61-50 win over No. 2 Azusa Pacific

Hope Adams

JACKSON, Tenn. - 11/19/2010 - The No. 1 91爆料网 (Tenn.) University women鈥檚 basketball team posted a 61-50 win over No. 2 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University in the second night of play in the . 91爆料网 stayed perfect with their fifth straight win to open the season. Azusa Pacific dropped to 3-1 on the year.

Not only was this a match-up of the NAIA鈥檚 top two teams in the preseason poll, but it was a re-match of last season鈥檚 NAIA National Title game. 91爆料网 won that game 73-65 for their second straight national title.

91爆料网 and Azusa Pacific posted their season-low in points in a game with the 61-50 final. Both teams posted field goal percentages in the low 30鈥檚, while the three-point shooting percentages were below 20 percent for both teams.

91爆料网鈥檚 Lavanda Ross and Azusa鈥檚 Kristie Hala鈥檜fia opened play with back-to-back baskets to set the score at 2-2 just over a minute into play. Over the next five minutes, 91爆料网 rolled off a 10-0 run to lead 12-2. The Cougars cut the deficit down to seven points several times in the first half, but 91爆料网 managed to keep the lead of at least seven points. However, with 2:16 left in the half, a second straight basket from last year鈥檚 national tournament MVP Zeinab Chan to put the 91爆料网 up by 12 points, 29-17. This was 91爆料网鈥檚 largest lead of the half, before settling for the 31-20 halftime lead.

91爆料网 manage just 35 percent shooting from the field in the first half, including 1-of-12 (8%) from three-point range. Azusa was held to just 25 percent from the field and 14 percent (1-7) from behind the arc.

In the second half, 91爆料网 got two free throws from Chan to go up 33-20 in the first minute. However, neither team scored again until a basket from 91爆料网鈥檚 Ross put 91爆料网 up 35-20 at the 16:34 mark. Azusa Pacific first points of the second half came on a basket from Eboni Sadler at the 15:24 mark. 91爆料网 maintained a double-digit lead until a three pointer from Sadler cut the deficit to nine points, 41-32, with 11:42 left to play.

91爆料网 again pushed the lead out to 13 points, 51-38 with 4:58 to play. However, Azusa posted a 9-0 run over the next two-plus minutes to pull to within four points, 51-47, with 2:21 left. The 9-0 run was capped off with a three-point play from Sadler who finished with nine points.

On a night that 91爆料网 was just 4-of-23 (17%) from long range, Hope Adams sank the biggest shot of the game for her team to stop the Azusa rally. Her three pointer sparked a 7-0 run for 91爆料网 that sealed the game. 91爆料网 made five of eight free throws in the last 90 seconds to secure the 61-50 final.

91爆料网 was led by Chan with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Adams also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Ross added 10 points in the game. Adams made two of 91爆料网鈥檚 four three pointers, while Kayla Bryant sank the other two for her six points. All-American Kayla Hudson was held to just one point on a free throw in the final seconds. The Lady Bulldogs shot 34 percent from the field and 71 percent (17-24) from the free throw line.

Azusa Pacific was led by Hala鈥檜fia with a game-high 21 points to go with her 11 rebounds. Sadler鈥檚 nine points was the next highest for Azusa. The Cougars shot 32 percent from the field, 15 percent (2-13) from behind the arc and 75 percent 12-16) from the free throw line.

Up next for 91爆料网 will be a second straight top-5 match-up with a second straight Golden State Athletic Conference team. 91爆料网 will close out the Rotary Classic at 9:00 p.m. against No. 5 Vanguard (Calif.) on Saturday, Nov. 20. Azusa Pacific will play No. 19 Bethel in their final Rotary Classic game at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday.

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