Box Score
Fresno Pacific tallied its ninth victory of the season on Thursday, surpassing last season's win total with a 63-58 victory over host Menlo at the Peninsula Holiday Classic.
Jenay Herring scored 17 points,
Keri Stephanoff added 16 and
Brandi Blackwell had 11 rebounds as the Sunbirds (9-4) defeated the Oaks for the second time this season.
In the win, Fresno Pacific shot 43 percent from the field while holding Menlo to 33 percent. While Herring and Stephanoff led the offense,
Brandi Blackwell with 11 rebounds and seven from Stephanoff led the Sunbird defense.
Kayla Clement contributed with five assists as well.
After 20 minutes of exciting basketball, Fresno Pacific led 33-31 at the half after shooting 45 percent from the field. Early in the action, FPU jumped out to a 21-17 lead following three's by
Sienna Gonzales and Herring.
Menlo responded by applying a full-court press that forced four straight Sunbird turnovers, prompting a 7-0 run to gain the lead 24-21. Following a timeout by Head Coach Erin Scholz, Fresno Pacific looked to slow down the pace of the game by using their size inside.
The Sunbirds went inside to
Stephanie Larson on three straight possessions and were rewarded with three converted buckets to gain the lead 29-24. Herring would convert a jumper at the end of the half to take the Sunbirds into the locker room with the lead, as she led all scorers at the half with eight points and five rebounds.
The Sunbirds used a 10-3 run in the second half to go ahead 54-47 with four minutes remaining. Menlo would not go away quietly on their home court, pulling within one point following their own 6-0 run.
A dagger would be put in the heart of the Lady Oaks with 2:15 remaining with a three by Herring to put the Sunbirds up 57-53. Menlo applied pressure with their full court press, but to no avail this time as FPU broke it with ease leading to a layup by Stephanoff assisted by Gonzales. Two free-throws by Stephanoff clinched the victory for the Sunbirds 63-58.
Fresno Pacific will matchup against Holy Names at 4 p.m. tomorrow in Atherton, a team the Sunbirds defeated earlier in the season 80-60.
