FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team is set for another two PacWest Conference games this week, hosting Biola on Thursday before heading to the Bay Area to take on Dominican on Saturday. The Sunbirds enter play as one of five teams to have already punched their ticket to the PacWest Tournament, with only one open spot remaining.
Schedule
Game 25
Thursday, February 14
vs.
Biola • 5:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif.
• Special Events Center
Live Stats • Video
Game 26
Saturday, February 16
at
Dominican • 2:00 p.m.
San Rafael, Calif.
• Conlan Center
Live Stats • Video
About the Sunbirds (15-8, 11-6 PacWest)
The Blue and Orange are coming off their fourth straight 1-1 week after defeating Notre Dame de Namur on Monday before falling to league-leading Azusa Pacific on Saturday afternoon.
Julia Locastro was named the PacWest Defender of the Week on Monday after racking up 13 blocks and 21 rebounds last week. The Sunbirds rank second in the league in turnover margin at 5.04, behind only Dominican's mark of 6.18.
Bree Alvarez and
Jessica Malazarte give FPU two of the PacWest's top ten scorers, while
Cassie Pisik ranks third in rebounding.
Leaderboard
About the Eagles (9-12, 7-8 PacWest)
Biola had last weekend off but will look to shake off back-to-back losses against Hawai'i Pacific and Hawai'i Hilo prior to that. Against the Vulcans last Monday, Tatum Brimley and Jazz Benn combined for 42 points and 11 threes, but the Eagles were unable to overcome 23 turnovers. Biola has connected on just over 40% from the floor as a team, good enough for fourth in the league.
FPU leads the all-time series 46-22, but the Sunbirds haven't won in Fresno since 2008. Behind a combined 34 from
Ashley Cross and
Jessica Malazarte, the Blue and Orange were able to hold on for a 60-57 victory in La Mirada earlier this season in La Mirada.
About the Penguins (19-3, 16-2 PacWest)
Dominican enters play this week riding a six-game win streak, including a 16-point win over Hawai'i Hilo on Sunday evening. Natalie Diaz once again led the way for the Penguins, pouring in 33 points and 14 rebounds to notch her ninth 30+ point game of the year.
Fresno Pacific carries a 15-8 lead in the all-time series into this week, and the road team has won each of the last three meetings. The Penguins turned in four strong quarters when the two teams faced off earlier this season in Fresno, as Diaz and Julia Razo combined for 53 points in a 24-point win.
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