SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's water polo team received a goal from Kaitlin Groothuyzen with 33 seconds left in the first overtime period to down California Baptist 8-7 at the Golden Coast Conference (GCC) Championships on Saturday.
 
The Sunbirds improve to 15-15 overall on the season and move into the fifth-place game on Sunday against Santa Clara (10:30 a.m.). The Lancers, who are receiving votes in the national poll, end the season at 17-14 overall.
 
After each team headed into halftime tied at 2-2, the Sunbirds took control of the game in the third period. Amber Penney scored three times to give FPU a 5-2 lead as the final quarter approached. The Sunbirds then extended their lead to 7-4 with 5:12 remaining on a goal from Emily Knowles, but the Lancers stormed back to force overtime. FPU kept CBU off the scoreboard in the two extra frames and used Groothuyzen's goal to earn the win.
 
Penney led all scorers with four goals in the win, while Knowles added two and Hannah Holly and Groothuyzen added one apiece. Julia Ponce dished out four assists for the Sunbirds.

Courtney Hall played well in the cage and totaled nine saves to earn the win.
 
The two teams each finished 2-of-6 on power-play opportunities, while the Lancers outshot the Sunbirds 34-25 on the day.
 
The victory marks the first win against CBU in program history for FPU and the first-ever win in the GCC Championships.