FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team picked up a PacWest Conference victory on Saturday, defeating Point Loma 77-74 in a thriller at the Special Events Center. The Sunbirds improve to 4-1 in league play with the win, the best PacWest start in program history. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: FPU 77, PLNU 74    
Records: FPU (8-3, 4-1 PacWest), Point Loma (2-8, 2-3 PacWest)
Location: Special Events Center | Fresno, Calif.   
Series: PLNU leads 43-34
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The two teams combined to miss the first ten field goals of the game before a Bree Alvarez three-pointer broke the trend three minutes into the game.    
• Barbara Keomany put the Sunbirds on top by seven with 1:37 left in the first quarter, but Point Loma closed on a 7-1 run to keep it close.  
• FPU put the foot on the accelerator in the second quarter, with a Jessica Malazarte triple putting the home team in front by as many as nine.
• The Sea Lions again stormed back, cutting the Sunbird lead to three heading into the locker room at the intermission.
• PLNU's Cara Liggins opened the second half with a three to tie the game, but Alvarez turned a fast break bucket into FPU's biggest lead of the night just six minutes later. 
• Point Loma clawed their way back yet again, taking a lead on a Haylee Saurette three-ball with 5:42 to play.
• PLNU's Cara Liggins opened the second half with a three to tie the game, but Alvarez turned a fast break bucket into FPU's biggest lead of the night just six minutes later. 
• Rachel Berry put the Blue and Orange back in front by one with 13 seconds to play, and on the ensuing in-bound pass, Ashley Cross came away with what the biggest steal of the game, drawing contact to head to the line for the clinching free throws.
 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
• Point Loma's Sydney Peterson led all scorers with 22 points, while Alvarez again led the Sunbirds with 21 of her own.     
• Malazarte finished with 20 points, and Cassie Pisik rounded out a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
• The Sea Lions outrebounded their hosts 53-40, but FPU committed just 12 turnovers while forcing Point Loma into 28.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Blue and Orange remain undefeated through five games on their home floor this season.
• FPU's 4-1 start to league play is the best mark since joining the PacWest Conference ahead of the 2012-13 season.   
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds return to the court on the 29th, when they head across town to take on Fresno State in an exhibition. Tipoff from the Save Mart Center is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.