Box Score

The Sunbirds hit a layup with 6.7 seconds left before Seattle Pacific drove the length of the court and thwarted FPU's upset bid 56-55 in the final game of the 2013 West Region Crossover Classic.

After a jumper by Aubree Callen the Sunbirds (0-2) had one more chance with 1.2 seconds remaining. But Seattle Pacific (2-0) deflected the inbound pass and hung on for the one-point victory.

"I don't think I've ever seen a team grow so much in one week," said head coach Lindsey Wilson. "We scrimmaged on Tuesday, then last night playing such a great team in Western and then tonight. If we continue to grow this much every week we are going to be a really good team."

Patrice Saindon and Charde Stevens each scored 10 leading a very balanced Sunbird attack. Saindon added five assists and five rebounds, and Stevens led the way on the boards with eight. Brandi Blackwell and Jenay Herring added six each.

"It makes us hard to defend when we have a balanced attack," said Wilson. "They have to defend all five of our players because you never know who could be our leading scorer."

The Sunbirds put together another excellent first half performance, especially on the defensive end, holding the Falcons to just 27.6-percent from the field and 14.3-percent from beyond the arc. That combined with an 11-31 shooting performance from the floor by the Sunbirds gave FPU their first halftime lead of the young season at 26-20.

Out of the break the Falcons kept the Sunbirds from getting away going on a 9-4 run heading into the first media timeout. The half went back and forth with neither side able to wrestle control. SPU regained the lead with 7:07 remaining for the first time since 7:26 in the first half.

SPU pushed the lead to five twice in the waning minutes and led all the way until Saindon's layup with 6.7 seconds remaining.
The Sunbirds kept the Falcon's star post player Katie Benson under control despite the significant size advantage the 6'2" senior had over the Sunbirds. Benson finished with 15 points and eight boards one day after posting a double-double of 20 points and 10 boards against Humboldt State.

Fresno Pacific also won the turnover battle in a game for the first time since February of last year. The Sunbirds committed just 15 turnovers while forcing the Falcons into 18 mishaps.

"We got better today," said Wilson. "That's all we ask as a coaching staff, and that's all we can ask, is for them to be better everyday than they were the day before and they did that tonight."

FPU will be on the road for the first time this season on Tuesday when they travel to Chico State to take on the CCAA preseason favorite at 7:00 p.m.