Fresno Pacific led by 11 points with 14:30 remaining but the Chico State Wildcats (1-0) closed the gap quickly and would come away with a 66-63 win behind 16 points from McKenzie Dalthrop. Keairra White had 29 points and nine rebounds to lead the Sunbirds (0-4).

“I liked the girls commitment, fight and energy tonight,” said head coach Erin Scholz. “We are a team that is trying to get better and whenever you are trying to improve, there is going to be resistance and challenge to do it the old way. I believe there was only one lapse tonight to do it the old way and it hurt us.”

Heading into intermission, the two teams were knotted at 31 apiece following multiple lead changes. FPU found itself down by six at the 13:01 mark before an 8-0 sparked by a Charde Stevens layup gave FPU the lead at 18-16.

The Sunbirds exchanged baskets as the half continued before a White layup and two free throws by the Cougars ended the half. White lead the Sunbirds with 13 points and six rebounds at the half.

The Sunbirds used a 10-0 run at the beginning of the second half, started by a Kayla Clement three, to put the score at 43-33. The run was ended by two free throws by the Wildcats before the Sunbirds responded right back with a White three to gain its biggest margin of the night. 

Chico State refused to back down however, slowly chipping away at the lead as the second half continued to wind down. A three by Jazmine Miller and two free-throws tied the score at 54-54 with 7:43 remaining.

With 2:01 remaining, a Savannah Vasquez offensive rebound and layup put the Sunbirds up by one before the Wildcats scored the next six points to put the game out of reach. FPU had a chance to tie the game with 28 seconds remaining, but a White three rimmed out leading to two free throws to clinch the game for Chico.

White was the only scorer in double figures for the Sunbirds with 29. Stevens chipped in with nine, Clement had eight, Breana Buczek and Stephanie Larson had six each and Vasquez had five for the Sunbirds. FPU was without starters Jenay Herring, Brandi Blackwell and Keri Stephanoff in the loss due to injury.

“The focus will continue to be one day at a time for us,” said Scholz. “These coming games we need a carryover. If we continue to stay on the right track of improving we will be fine.”

Fresno Pacific travels to the CUSLA Thanksgiving Classic on November 23-24 to take on Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills at 3 pm and 1 pm.