FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team improved to 5-1 in PacWest Conference action on Monday afternoon, defeating Chaminade 72-62 at the Special Events Center. The Sunbirds have yet to lose on their home floor this season and will put that streak on the line two more times this week.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: FPU 72, Chaminade 62   
Records: FPU (9-3, 5-1 PacWest), Chaminade (2-7, 1-4 PacWest)
Location: Special Events Center | Fresno, Calif.   
Series: FPU leads 7-3
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Chaminade opened the game with back-to-back threes, but the Sunbirds called a timeout to regroup, finishing the first quarter on a 20-4 run.
• Ashley Cross knocked down a three on FPU's final possession of the first half, sending the Blue and Orange to the locker room with a 15-point lead at the intermission.
• The two teams went back and forth for the bulk of the third quarter, but a big stretch from Jessica Malazarte allowed the 'Birds to head to the final chapter with a big lead intact.  
• Silversword guards Destiny Castro and Diamond Carter helped bring Chaminade cut the deficit from 21 down to 10 in the fourth, but the Sunbirds were able to pull out another league win.  
 
STATS FROM THE GAME:
• Castro and Carter matched one another for a game-high 20 points, while Malazarte finished with 16 as one of four Sunbirds in double-figures.  
• Cross and Cassie Pisik both narrowly missed double-doubles, combining for 21 points and 17 rebounds.   
• As a team, Chaminade outrebounded their hosts 42-39, but FPU won the turnover battle by a 16-14 margin. 
• The Sunbirds shot 42% from the floor, including a 7-of-19 effort from behind the arc.  
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Locastro matched her career-best with six blocks against Chaminade, reaching that mark for the third time.
• Prior to Monday, the Sunbirds hadn't won six home games in a season since the 2011-12 campaign, when they finished 7-6 at the SEC.   
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds are back at it on Wednesday, when they welcome Hawai'i Hilo to the Special Events Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.