JACKSON, Tenn. - 11/19/2010 - The No. 1 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ (Tenn.) University women’s basketball team posted a 61-50 win over No. 2 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University in the second night of play in the . Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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’s top two teams in the preseason poll, but it was a re-match of last season’s NAIA National Title game. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ won that game 73-65 for their second straight national title.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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’s, while the three-point shooting percentages were below 20 percent for both teams.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s Lavanda Ross and Azusa’s Kristie Hala’ufia 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, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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’s national tournament MVP Zeinab Chan to put the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ up by 12 points, 29-17. This was Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s largest lead of the half, before settling for the 31-20 halftime lead.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ got two free throws from Chan to go up 33-20 in the first minute. However, neither team scored again until a basket from Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s Ross put Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ that sealed the game. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ made five of eight free throws in the last 90 seconds to secure the 61-50 final.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµâ€™s 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’ufia with a game-high 21 points to go with her 11 rebounds. Sadler’s 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 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will be a second straight top-5 match-up with a second straight Golden State Athletic Conference team. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 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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