By Ron Smith
February 14, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Sage Kramer poured in 19 points and Bailey Fong added another 16, but it wasn't enough for Westmont Women's Basketball (10-13, 6-9 PacWest) to defeat conference leader Azusa Pacific (22-3, 16-0). For the Cougars, the victory clinched at least a share of the PacWest Regular Season Championship. Azusa Pacific holds a five game lead over second place Fresno Pacific (16-6, 10-4).
 
The win was also the 400th for Azusa Pacific head coach TJ Hardeman, who is a Westmont alumnus. Hardeman is in his 17th season at APU.
 
The Warriors started the game on an 8-4 run with buckets by Kramer and Destiny Okonkwo sandwiched between a pair of jumpers by Fong. The Cougars responded, however, with eight points of their own to go up 12-8 with two and one-half minutes to play in the opening frame. By the end of the first 10 minutes, Azusa had stretched their advantage to 18-10.
 
In the first two minutes of the second quarter, Westmont cut the lead to just one point not once, but twice. A 10-0 run by Azusa Pacific, however, made it a 30-19 score that favored the visitors. In the final 2:09 before intermission, Sage Kramer connected on three triples, helping to cut the deficit to seven (39-32) at the half.
 
Kramer hit a jumper in the first 10 seconds of the third quarter as the Warriors pulled within five, but Azusa Pacific scored the next eight points and led by double digits the rest of the way.
 
In addition to her point total, Kramer added five rebounds to her stat line. Fong produced four assists, four rebounds and two steals to complement her scoring.
 
Madi Bogan notched 10 points and five rebounds while Destiny Okonkwo added eight points and eight boards.
 
The Warriors have five games remaining in the regular season beginning with a home game against Chaminade of Honolulu (3-19, 1-16) on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is scheduled for one o'clock.