STOCKTON, Calif. –
Jordan Cruz hit clutch shots down the stretch and
Valerie Higgins notched her seventh double double of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Pacific women's basketball team (11-7, 4-3 WCC) fell to BYU (9-7, 4-2 WCC) in overtime 76-66 at the Alex G. Spanos Center on Thursday night.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
First Half
- The Tyges held BYU to just 1 for 6 from the field in the opening five and a half minutes and 1 of 4 from downtown.
- Brooklyn McDavid hit a step-back jumper on the elbow at the 1:37 mark, then Isabel Newman came back on the ensuing Tiger possession for the three to keep things close.
- Pacific hit 4-of-5 from the field over a second-quarter stretch that included back-to-back jumpers from McDavid, putting her over 10 points for the 14th time this season.
- UOP caught fire in the second quarter with a 9-0 run over 1:52 that saw four of five shots go in with five points from Kaylin Randhawa.
- Pacific's perimeter defense held the Cougars to just 4 of 11 from deep in the first half while holding a 7-4 rebounding advantage in the second quarter. Valerie Higgins accounted for four of Pacific's seven first-half rebounds, ending the night with 13 to finish one shy of her season high of 14 (vs. Drexel, 11/16/19).
Second Half
- Higgins hit four of five shots late in the third quarter to pull Pacific within seven of a surging BYU offense.
- Pacific couldn't find an answer for the Cougars in the third quarter, but ended the frame on a 5-0 run to come within four entering the fourth quarter.
- Cruz showed her clutch gene again with a three from up top at the start of the fourth quarter, then Loretta Kakala finished a play inside to give Pacific its first lead since 4-3 in the first.
- Pacific forced BYU to turn the ball over three times in the final minute and a half before Cruz sent the Tigers into their first overtime game of the season with a layup at the :31 mark.
- The Cougars had the upper hand in the extra period though, out-rebounding Pacific 9-1 on the defensive glass.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
- Higgins put up her seventh double double of the season, grabbing 13 rebounds - one shy of a season high - to go along with 16 points and five steals to earn City of Stockton Human Resources Hardworking Player of the Game honors.
- Cruz was clutch late in the game with a steal and a bucket to force overtime.
- Pacific's bench came up big again with a 22-14 advantage over the Cougars for the night.
UP NEXT:
- Pacific is back in action Saturday for a 2:00 p.m. tip against San Diego. The first 250 fans in the door will receive a free pair of Pacific Tigers sunglasses.
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