Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Despite game and career highs of 27 points and 17 rebounds by forward Taylor Peacocke (So., Kenmore/Inglemoor), Western Washington University fell to Azusa Pacific University, 79-74, in first-day action Friday, Nov. 21, at the West Region Crossover Classic being held at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The Vikings, ranked No.21 in the USA Today Sports Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, dropped to 1-2.

APU improved to 4-0 despite having just three field goals in the final 12 minutes. Cydnie Jones had 19 points for the Cougars, and Kelly Hardeman added 17 points and 11 rebounds.

The Cougars held a 39-35 lead at halftime, then opened the second half with six straight points to go up by 11, 46-35, less than two minutes into the period.

The Vikings rallied to within two, 61-59, by holding APU without a field goal for nearly seven minutes, and had six shots with an opportunity to tie or take the lead. But Mariam Zabinsky ended the Cougar drought on a short jumper with 5:16 left, then after a Jones free throw, Zabinsky scored on a layup to put APU up, 66-59, with 4:09 to go.

WWU made one final rally, pulling to within three on a Katie Colard (Sr., McCleary/Elma) 3-pointer with 2:07 left, but Colard's attempt to tie on another trey 30 seconds later rimmed out and the Cougars hit 7-of-10 free throws and got a critical layin from Jones with 1:00 to play to keep the Vikings out of reach.

Colard finished with 19 points for Western, hitting 5-of-11 on 3-pointers. Kiana Gandy (So., Des Moines/Mount Rainier) added10 points off the bench.

Zabinsky had 15 points, and Maggie Dumphy added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Cougars. APU was 28-of-41 (68.3 percent) on free throws, with Jones going 13-of-20 and Hardeman 10-of-12.

In tourney action Saturday, Nov. 22, WWU meets UC San Diego at 7:30 p.m. and APU plays Seattle Pacific University at 5 p.m.