The Master's University women's basketball team welcomed one of NCAA Division 2's most talented teams to Bross Court on Thursday for the purpose of enlightenment.
The Mustangs hoped Azusa Pacific would expose weaknesses and help prepare them for a run at another Golden State Athletic Conference title and postseason success.
The Cougars obliged, unleashing a punishing fourth-quarter surge that turned a game the Mustangs had mostly controlled on its head. Azusa Pacific won the exhibition contest 60-48, holding Master's without a basket for the first six minutes of the final period and forcing 30 turnovers in the game.
"They brought on a press (in the fourth quarter) that forced us to speed up a little bit even though we didn't necessarily want to," said guard
Madi Hull, who scored a team-high 11 points in her Master's debut.
The Mustangs led by as many as 12 in the third quarter, a margin that was trimmed to three heading to the fourth. There, Azusa Pacific used its absurd length on defense to smother the Mustangs, outscoring its host 21-6.
"I think our consistency changed in the fourth," said
Stephanie Soares, who finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and five blocks. "And we weren't looking to score."
It didn't help that the Cougars made 9-of-16 shots in the final period, including three backbreaking three-pointers.
Still, Master's showed why it was picked No. 4 in the NAIA Division 1 Preseason Coaches Poll this week, displaying a star-studded frontcourt and a deep, talented rotation.
The Mustangs outscored the Cougars 17-10 in the first quarter, behind 3-pointers from four different players, and 30-20 in the first half.
Anika Neuman chipped in nine points for Master's and
Rebekah Throns had three steals and seven rebounds, one of which sparked the highlight of the evening.
In the second quarter, Throns secured the ball and fired it ahead to a sprinting Soares, who caught the it and laid it in, drawing a foul.
The play – and successful free throw attempt – gave Master's a 23-14 lead.
"My mindset is to go up strong because I know they're going to foul," Soares said. "I knew Rebekah would throw that pass because that's what we've been practicing."
Soares also said she was encouraged by the way her teammates came out firing on offense early in the game.
"They shot amazing," she said. "Once they see one shot go in, then they keep making them."
The Mustangs will now travel to Cal State Northridge on Tuesday to take on the Matadors in their final exhibition of the season. TMU's regular-season opener is Nov. 1 at a tournament in the greater-Sacramento area.
The Mustangs will play Southeastern University (FL), the No. 2 ranked team in NAIA Division 2.
