TACOMA- Ashley Kowack scored 25 points on 8-19 shooting as UC Santa Cruz defeated Puget Sound 65-58 in their season opener.
After the hosts took a brief 3-2 lead, UC Santa Cruz answered with a 12-5 run to take the lead back at 14-8 and never trail again.
The lead was as much as 17 in the second quarter when Amanda Inserra's three with 0:19 left made it 39-22.
The hosts closed to within one with 3:31 left, but five points from Kowack via a three-pointer and a pair of free throws made it 59-53 with 1:25 left.
Tess Oakley-Stilson then nailed four free throws down the stretch to extinguish the Loggers' comeback.

Overall, UC Santa Cruz shot 23-59 (39%) from the field. Kowack hit six of the Banana Slugs' 11 three-pointers, tying her career high. Kaylee Murphy added team-highs of 13 rebounds and six assists. Oakley-Stillson finished with eight points and three assists in her college debut.
Sophie Nilsson led the Loggers (0-1) with 27 points.

The Banana Slugs finish the weekend roadtrip at Pacific University on Sunday afternoon.