FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific University women's basketball team battled to overtime on Saturday afternoon but ultimately fell 79-76 in the final minute against Chaminade.
 
"We are talented enough to win, but we continuously fail at mental preparation going into games," head coach Tim Beauregard said. "This is yet another game where we got bit by a lack of motivation. Everyone in our program - coaches and players alike - have to be better than what we were tonight."
 
The Silverswords controlled the opening tip, allowing Destiny Castro to draw early contact and put the visitors on the scoreboard first with a pair of free throws. FPU answered by turning in the next seven points, with Bree Alvarez picking up the first three assists of the game.
 
Seven Sunbirds found the bottom of the net in the second quarter, as Fresno Pacific posted their most productive stretch of the night. The Blue and Orange outscored their opponents 20-15 to carry a slim 33-31 advantage into the locker room at half.
 
Chaminade came out firing in the second half, shooting better than 51% from the floor behind 14 combined third-quarter points from Castro and Lilia Maio. Silversword guard Kristle Henry connected on a jumper with 48 seconds to play in the game, but Viviana Vasquez sunk a free throw at the other end to pull the game even at 69-69.
 
The Sunbirds managed to force a turnover but never got a clean look at the would-be game-winner, and FPU began its first overtime period of the year. The two teams exchanged buckets for the majority of the extra time, but the turning point came when Maio made a layup with a chance to go to the line for one more.
 
Maio converted the three-point play, moving in to first place on the school's all-time leading scoring list in the process. Fresno Pacific called a timeout with three seconds remaining, but the Silversword defense again held up to help Chaminade escape with the 79-76 victory.
 
Five Sunbirds scored in double-figures for the first time this season, with Megan Lee's 17 points off the bench leading the way. Alex Green followed with her first double-double of the year, chipping in 13 points while collecting 10 rebounds, second to only Abrina Salas' game-high 12 boards.
 
FPU also outrebounded their guests 51-43, marking just the second occasion this season with at least 50 in a game. The Sunbirds again won the turnover battle by a tally of 23-19, marking the sixth time in seven games they have done so.
 
"We will refocus and reengage for next week's games. We refuse to become results-oriented," Beauregard said. "We will pursue being the best we can be from top to bottom, and wins will become a byproduct of this passion."