IRVINE, Calif. – The top seeds prevailed in their PacWest Women’s Basketball Championship debuts, as Azusa Pacific and California Baptist both won their semifinal matchups on Friday. The two teams who shared the regular season title and only lost to one another in conference will meet for the tournament championship on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
CBU 90 – Academy of Art 80
CBU beat No. 3 Academy of Art, 90-80, to return to the tournament championship for the third-consecutive year.
Kamille Diaz scored a game-high 29 points, making nine three-pointers to tie the tournament single game record (men and women).
Diaz made a three-pointer on three-consecutive possessions to close the first quarter, giving CBU a 25-17 lead. Art U battled back in the second quarter and a three-pointer by
Zoie Sheng in the closing seconds made it a one-point game at the half, 37-36.
Diaz’s hot shooting continued in the second half, making four more triples as CBU built a double-digit lead, 66-56. Art U came back once again in the fourth quarter, using a 13-4 run in just under three minutes to pull back within one, 70-69. CBU would not relinquish the lead
Azusa Pacific 70 – Dominican 63
Azusa Pacific overcame a sluggish first half to beat No. 5 Dominican, 70-63, to reach the tournament final for the first time. The Cougars shot just 25 percent in the first half, but bounced back with a strong fourth quarter to seal the win.
Miriam Zabinsky scored 15 points and had five of APU’s 15 steals.
Kelly Hardeman had 10 points and 12 rebounds, and Cydnie Jones had 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Allison Greene registered 12 points and seven assists.
Allyssa Weatherd scored a game-high 21 points for Dominican, and
Ashley Sorensen had five of the team’s 11 blocks.
After a tied first quarter, Dominican built its largest lead of the half, 38-29, when
Taylor Donnot converted a three-point play as she was fouled on a jumper. Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter and Dominican carried a three-point advantage, 49-46, into the final 10 minutes.
Joelle Tampien made two three-pointers at the start of the fourth quarter to put APU ahead, 54-49. Dominican tied the game at 54, but Tampien hit another three during an 8-2 spurt that kept the Cougars in the lead for good.