IRVINE, Calif. – CUI women's basketball dominated No. 19 Azusa Pacific in Friday's battle winning 72-51.

This is the first win against APU for the Eagles under head coach Christine Collins-Kiernan and the first victory over the Cougars since CUI went to NCAA Division II. This team continues to make history during this 2020-21 season as CUI women's basketball had also not beaten APU since 2005.

In addition, this is the second victory for the Eagles over a top 25 ranked team this season! CUI also handled then-No. 24 Northwest Nazarene 85-54 earlier this month.

"This is a prime example of all the work that past and present players have put into this rebuild," said Collins-Kiernan. "I hope this group continues to show their ability to stick together through aversity and to celebrate the small victories that happen through the course of a game. We have an incredibly long way to go but I hope instead they can see how far they have already come."

The Eagles started out with a true battle on their hands as the score at the end of the quarter was APU 14, CUI 12.  The Eagles turned that around in the second quarter holding the Cougars to only nine points while dropping a solid 21 in the quarter. This gave CUI a 10-point lead at half, 33-23.

The Eagles continued to build on the lead defeating the ranked team by more than 20 points with an end score of 72-51.  The women's basketball team had an all-around solid performance from every team member. The chemistry the team has built up this season was on full display through their level of play with one another.

Michaela VanderKlugt filled the stat sheet as she led the Eagles in three key areas with 21 points, nine rebounds, and four steals.

"This has been one of our goals from day one," said VanderKlugt. "To build a program that can compete with the programs that have been at the top. This was a GREAT team win. Our defense fueled our offense. Everyone contributed and that is what needs to happen to be a championship team. We are a force to be reckoned with!"

As VanderKlugt said this was a great team win with scoring spread all around. Savannah Felix-Amoroso shot 80% from the field and dropped 13 points for the Eagles. Destiny Sambrano and Felix-Amoroso were in sync tonight as they had a couple plays of perfection helping Sambrano earn three assists. Katie Timmerman and Kennedy Fulcher added eight points. Edina Del Rosario and Sambrano contributed seven points each. Timmerman led the team in assists with four and grabbed six boards.

"It feels good to get a solid win over a ranked opponent," said Felix-Amoroso. "It was a full team effort to pull off the win, everyone stuck to their game and did their part."

The Eagles are now 3-2 overall and 2-1 in conference. They face off with APU again Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. in Cougar territory. For the full Eagle schedule CLICK HERE.

#CUITogether