IRVINE, Calif. – The PacWest Conference announced its' list of weekly awards on Monday afternoon, with Fresno Pacific senior Julia Locastro earning Defender of the Week honors. Locastro's selection marks the first league award for the Sunbirds since Jessica Malazarte was tabbed the PacWest Player of the Week in November.
 
Locastro matched her career-best six blocks in Monday night's win over Notre Dame de Namur, only to surpass it with seven five days later. The Fresno native also snagged a team-high 21 rebounds for the week, including 12 on the defensive glass.  
 
"Julia has been an absolute force for us all year, and what she provides for our defense night in and night out is irreplaceable. She is one of the toughest, most relentless players I have ever coached," head coach Tim Beauregard said. "Her abilities on the court are only surpassed by the kind of person she is off the court. She is smart, caring, and a great teammate, and I am thrilled to see her get this much-deserved recognition."
 
FPU is back in action on Thursday, when they host Biola at the Special Events Center for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff. The Sunbirds have already clinched their first ever berth in the PacWest Conference Tournament, which begins on March 7 in San Rafael. 
 
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