FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team picked up their third straight PacWest Conference victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating Academy of Art 81-72 at the Special Events Center.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Fresno Pacific 81, Academy of Art 72
Records: FPU (6-8, 4-2 PacWest), Academy of Art (2-12, 1-5 PacWest)
Location: Special Events Center | Fresno, Calif.  
All-Time Series: AAU leads 7-1
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The two teams exchanged buckets for the first five minutes of the game, but the Sunbirds ended the first quarter on a 16-3 run. FPU connected on six threes in the opening stanza.
• Behind a combined 25 first half points from Bree Alvarez and Cassie Pisik, FPU cruised to a 44-27 lead heading to the intermission.
• The Urban Knights shot an impressive 49% from the floor in the second half, but the Blue and Orange were able to hang on for another league win.  
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Alvarez' 16 points led the four Sunbird starters who scored in double-figures, while Ashley Cross gave the team 15 points off the bench.
• Pisik hauled in her second double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds, marking the fourth consecutive game she has highlighted FPU's rebounding effort.
• Pre'Franz Dominick racked up 22 points and 18 boards to lead the Urban Knights offensively, while Helena Orts and Jazzlyn Brewster combined for 37 points.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• As a team, FPU connected on 12 threes to set a new season-high.
• The Sunbirds have now won the turnover battle in five of their first six league games, and Saturday's win saw FPU force ARTU into 30 turnovers, more than any other Sunbird opponent this season.
• Pisik has led the team in rebounds on six occasions this season, more than any other player.  
• The Sunbirds have seen four players score in double-figures on six occasions, and they are now 5-2 in those games.
• Saturday was the second time this season that five Sunbirds scored in double-figures and the first time FPU has ever defeated the Urban Knights.
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds return to action on Wednesday, when they travel south to take on the nationally-ranked Cougars of Azusa Pacific. Tipoff from APU's Felix Event Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.