FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific University women's basketball team stumbled in PacWest Conference action on Friday night, falling 71-59 to Notre Dame de Namur on the road.

"We started the game with a lack of focus, and by the time we showed up for work, we were down 11 with only 30 minutes left. From then on, we played a tight game, but we have to clock in from the start of our shift," head coach Tim Beauregard said. "It was another night where a couple of players played well and a couple others were not not ready to go. We have great young ladies, and I have to do better getting more focus out of them to start games. We will continue to embrace the grind and continue the fight." 
 
The Argos controlled the tip on their home floor, but FPU's Viviana Vasquez came away with the game's first basket at the other end. NDNU answered with the tying basket, sparking a 20-7 run to close out the first quarter.
 
Megan Lee went for nine points in the second quarter, helping Fresno Pacific to outscore their hosts 15-14 for that stretch. Notre Dame de Namur finished the half with a 47% success rate from the floor and carried a 10-point lead into the locker room at intermission.
 
Lee knocked down a pair of free throws with 1:35 remaining in the third quarter to pull the Blue and Orange within five points. Emily Tevez led the way for the Argo offense in the second half, connecting on 5-of-9 from the floor to tally 13 points while helping NDNU outlast the Sunbirds.
 
Lee finished the night with a season-high 24 points to lead all scorers, while Bree Alvarez chipped in 17 points of her own. Three Argos scored in double-figures, highlight by Tevez' team-best 22 points.
 
Tevez and Jerusha Paine each recorded a double-double, with the latter collecting a game-high 15 rebounds to go with 20 points. Viviana Vasquez and Ashley Cross each hauled in five rebounds to tie one another for the Sunbird lead.
 
FPU will be back in action on Monday, when they host 10th-ranked California Baptist in the first of three games next week. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. from the Special Events Center.