FPU pulled off an improbable second-half comeback over the PacWest's second-place team, Hawaii Pacific (11-4, 7-2 PWC), on Saturday for the team's third straight victory.

The Sunbirds (3-14, 3-7 PWC) trailed 42-29 at halftime and were down by as many as 16 points in the second half before coming back. FPU trailed 62-50 with 12 minutes left, but went on a 16-2 run to take its first lead of the second half with 5:30 remaining.

"It's huge," said head coach Erin Scholz. "Just for us to be able to understand how we can be down by that much and still comeback that we have that ability."

Keairra White led the way for the Sunbirds with 21 points on a tough shooting night 7-32 from the floor. Sienna Gonzales had a career-high 15 points including three three-pointers and Kayla Clement chipped in 11 for the Sunbirds who are riding a three-game winning streak.

Hawaii Pacific fell behind early as the Sunbirds went up by six just over three minutes into the game at 8-2. The Sea Warriors then went on a 31-15 run over the next ten minutes to take a ten-point lead.

Fresno Pacific struggled to find their touch from the field going 9-41 for just under 22-percent and found themselves down 13 heading into the break.

The Sea Warriors were beat the Sunbirds down the court off both made and missed shots. HPU scored 14 fast break points in the half while FPU scored zero. Melody Ladrido torched the Sunbird defense down the court to the tune of 17 first half points.  

"Their transition game is so strong," said Scholz. "When you get beat on wide open layups it feels like those two points are worth more. We had to bring awareness to our safety and have them starting cheating back early to stop them in transition."

In the second half the Sunbirds were unable to really cut into a Hawaii Pacific lead that ballooned as high as 16 with 16:16 remaining in the game.

Fresno Pacific slowly began to chip away at the lead with tough defense and an enhanced focus on transition defense that held the Sea Warriors to just four second half fast-break points.

With 5:51 remaining and the Sunbirds tied with HPU Clement made perhaps the play of the game when falling out of bounds she threw the ball off of Ladrido which gave the ball back to FPU and Breana Buczek hit a jumper to give the Sunbirds the lead.

Gonzales was a key cog for the Sunbirds in the comeback she scored 15 of the 17 bench points for Fresno Pacific in the game including a big three-pointer with 3:38 remaining that gave FPU a one point lead.

After a HPU jumper by Skye Savini Clement knocked down a three-pointer to give the Sunbirds a one-point lead. Charde Stevens hit one of two free throws with nine seconds to go that proved to be the game winners.

"Coming down the stretch I had Hawaii Hilo in the back of my mind when they hit a last second jumper to win," said Scholz. "To have it go our way this time magnifies that things are really turning around for us."

The Sunbirds head back out on the road as they face Dominican in San Rafael Tuesday. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 pm.