Azusa Pacific 75
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Katie McElree converted a pair of free throws with 5.1 seconds left to lift NCAA Division II No. 21-ranked CS Bakersfield to a 76–75 non-conference win over the NAIA’s No. 19-ranked Azuza Pacific Saturday afternoon at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield.
With the win, the Roadrunners, who have won back-to-back California Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAA) crowns, move to 2-1 on the season. The Cougars drop to 3-2.
The Roadrunners led for most of the night, opening up an 11-point lead midway through the first half. They led 69-62 with 3:47 to play when the Cougars scored 8 straight points over a 1:46 span to take their first lead of the game.
Alyssa Ferdaszewski scored a game-high 27 points, and her free throw with 2:01 to play gave the Cougars a 70-69 lead. The teams then traded buckets and leads until Lindsay Rice buried a jumper with 15 seconds remaining to give the Cougars a 75-74 lead.
McElree then drew a foul and buried both free throws to give the Roadrunners the final lead of the night. Kelsey Hudson’s missed the Cougars’ desperation shot at the buzzer.
The Cougars committed 37 turnovers, and CS Bakersfield took full advantage scoring 32 points off them.
Both teams were playig without their leading scorers. The Roadrunners missed junior guard Gillian Lillich, who missed her third consecutive game with a stress fracture in her foot. Azusa Pacific leading scorer Lindsey West missed her first career game due to a knee injury.
Ferdaszewski hit 8-of-10 shots from the floor, including all 4 3-point attempts, to post a new career-high in scoring. Rice finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds as 4 Cougars reached double-figures. Hudson and Monica Somers each added 12.
