Jenay Herring scored a career-high 31 points as FPU fell 79-67 to a talented Azusa Pacific squad on Saturday. Herring added five assists and the Sunbirds (1-5, 1-1 PacWest) also got 10 points from Megan Lee in the loss. Danielle Bender grabbed a game-high six rebounds.

"I'm proud of the way we didn't give up," said head coach Lindsey Wilson. "We were a bit short-handed tonight but we battled and gave everything we could. Jenay did some great things for us, not just scoring-wise but moving the basketball and taking the right shots."

FPU fell behind early 21-6 but a 9-0 capped off by an Abrina Salas three-pointer cut the Cougar lead to six. FPU trailed at halftime 36-23 but would climb back into it, getting as close as 74-67 following a Herring three-pointer with under a minute to play.

Kelly Hardeman, the PacWest's leading scorer on the season, paced the Cougars with 24 points and 10 rebounds as APU improved to 5-3, 1-0 in PacWest play.

APU dominated the boards 41-22, leading to a 28-12 points in the paint advantage and a 18-3 advantage in second-chance points. The Cougars have won the last 10 meetings between the two programs, dating back to 2009.