FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team was tripped up on Friday night, falling 86-72 to Western Washington on the first day of the West Region Crossover Classic.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Western Washington 86, Fresno Pacific 72
Records: WWU (1-0), FPU (0-1)
Location: Special Events Center | Fresno, Calif.  
Series: Western Washington leads 5-0
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QUOTABLE:
• "We struggled with our decision making in the first half, but we had several shining moments tonight. Against a team of that caliber, you have to play a full 40 minutes of good basketball. Our players are learning the difference in playing quick and playing in a hurry, but we still need to slow down and make the simple play when the possession calls for it. Because of the pressure we want to put on our opponents, there are still a lot of things to sure up on both ends. We're starting to figure out an identity for this program that we want to continue for years to come." – head coach Tim Beauregard
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Vikings controlled the opening tip, but it was Fresno Pacific's Cassie Pisik that came away with the first bucket of the season.
• The first quarter went back and forth, with Ayla Faber's jumper cutting the Western Washington lead to just two after the first ten minutes.
• WWU connected on half their shots in the second period to carry a 41-32 edge into the locker room at intermission.
• The Vikings led by as many as 16 at one point in the second half, but FPU refused to go quietly, cutting the deficit to six twice in the final stanza.

STATS OF THE GAME:
• Megan Lee led the Sunbirds with 18 points, while freshman Rachel Berry shot 6-of-9 from the floor to follow with 14.
• Pisik and Landynn Munster each went for 10 points, while Ashley Cross narrowly missed double-figures off the Sunbird bench.
• WWU's Hannah Stipanovich poured in 20 points to lead all scorers, and Hawai'i Pacific transfer Dani Iwami went for 16.
• Anna Schwecke hauled in a game-best eight rebounds to help the Vikings win the battle of the boards 44-23, while all five of Barbara Keomany's rebounds came on the defensive side.
• The Sunbirds shot 43% from the floor for the game, while Western Washington connected on 47% of their shots.
• Fresno Pacific forced their guests into committing 26 turnovers, a feat the Sunbirds accomplished only three times last season.
• The Blue and Orange scored 33 points off those turnovers, but the Vikings got nearly half their points from players off the bench.   
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Sunbirds have opened the season against a school from the Evergreen State in each of the last five seasons.
 
UP NEXT:
• Fresno Pacific returns to action on Saturday evening, hosting Seattle Pacific in the final game of the Crossover Classic. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. from the Special Events Center.