AZUSA, Calif. – California Baptist University nearly pulled off its first win over a top-ranked NCAA Division II team of the season in a PacWest-rivalry game at Azusa Pacific on Thursday night.

A furious second-half comeback fell just short for the Lancers in a 76-71 loss. CBU was led by Tori Mitchell and Lexy Ram, as both scored more than 20 points in a game for the second time this season. Mitchell pulled down a double-double with 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting and 10 rebounds. Ram added 21 points – going 2-3 from three and 7-8 from the free-throw line, seven rebounds and three assists.

Nevertheless, the Cougars improved to 20-3, 11-2 in the PacWest and CBU falls to 8-11, 5-6. The Lancers return home to face Concordia University of Irvine next Thursday, Feb. 1 at 5 p.m.

CBU out rebounded APU by 10, 46-36, in the loss, with Emma Meriggioli posting a game-and-individual-career-high 11 rebounds from the guard position, while also contributing five assists and five points.

Defensively, the Lancers held the Cougars to a 34.2 field goal percentage (25-73), while shooting 44.4 percent (24-54) on their own. CBU was aided by a 36-10 advantage in points in the paint.

Even so, the Lancers went into halftime facing a 15-point deficit, 46-31. CBU came out of the break and stole momentum almost immediately in the third quarter. A 13-2 run fueled by five points Ram and four each from Mitchell and Blaysen Varnadoe helped the Lancers cut their deficit down to two, 56-54, with 1:26 left in the third.

The Lancers started the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run, thanks to five more points from Ram and a fast-break bucket from Varnadoe, to take their first lead since the first quarter, 63-61, with 7:51 remaining in regulation.

APU forced ties at 63 and 65, but a three-pointer from Georgia Dale (seven points, five rebounds, three assists) gave the Lancers their biggest lead of the quarter, 68-65. The Cougars fought back and finished the game on an 11-3 run to secure the win.