FOREST GROVE, Ore.- The Pacific University women's basketball began their 2021-22 campaign with a win over UC Santa Cruz in their season opener, cruising to a 72-65 win on Sunday afternoon inside the Stoller Center 
 
The Boxers were incredibly efficient in the first game of the season, shooting 41.9% from the floor (26-62). The hosts were able to knock down shots from the perimeter when they needed it most, going 9-29 from three-point range. 
 
Four Boxers finished in double-digit scoring but the reserves provided a solid performance with 15 points off the bench.
 
Brilie Kovaloff (Junior/Honolulu, HI) led Pacific with 17 points. The reigning Northwest Conference Freshman of the Year was 6-14 from the floor and 3-8 from beyond the arc. 
 
Sydney Gray (Junior/Central Point, OR) and Camy Aguinaldo (Senior/Honolulu, HI) each poured in 12 points to help pace the Boxer offense. Aguinaldo dished out six assists from the point guard position and Gray led Pacific on the glass with nine rebounds to her name, just one shy of a double-double.
 
Rilee Price (Junior/Brea, CA) had a great all-around performance with 10 points, five assists, and three rebounds. The junior was a menace on the defensive end as well, tallying four steals in the contest.
 
How It Happened
 
It would look to be a very even game in the early minutes of the first quarter as the two teams would trade baskets for most of the opening 10 minutes. Pacific would begin to pull away when Gray hit a three-pointer and followed with a layup in transition to give her team a six-point lead heading into the second quarter.
 
The Banana Slugs started off hot to start the quarter and managed to momentarily take the lead. However, two free throws from Madison Dunlop (Sophomore/Palmer, AK) would put the Boxers back in front and spark a 12-0 run to close the half. Aguinaldo sprinted down the court with seconds remaining and drilled a three at the buzzer to give Pacific a 36-25 advantage at the break.
 
A 9-3 run to start the third quarter gave the Boxers a much more comfortable lead, then Hannah Stein (Sophomore/Eugene, OR) would get in on the action with a big three-pointer to make the score 51-36. Taya McCallum (Freshman/Chehalis, WA) would make back-to-back layups at the end of the third period, giving Pacific a 56-38 lead with 10 minutes to play.
 
UC Santa Cruz would scare the Boxers towards the end but some solid foul shooting down the stretch would propel the hosts to victory in the season opener.
 
 
Up Next
 
The Boxers head to California on Nov. 13 for the first of two contests in the Golden State, facing off against Pomona-Pitzer at 4 p.m.
 
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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