SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Jessica Malazarte scored a season-high 28 points and Cassie Pisik added a double-double of 14 points and 17 rebounds as the Fresno Pacific women's basketball team used a strong second half to down Dominican, 87-74, on Saturday in PacWest play.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
• Final: FPU 87, DUC 74
• Records: FPU (11-10, 8-7 PacWest), DUC (7-13, 4-10 PacWest)
• Location: Conlan Center | San Rafael, Calif. 
• All-Time Series: FPU leads 17-8
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 
• FPU opened the afternoon with jumper from Malazarte and a three from Bayli McClard to jolt out to a 5-0 lead on the Penguins.
• A sluggish second quarter had the Sunbirds trailing (34-32) at halftime, but the Blue and Orange responded in the third to outscore the Penguins 26-15.
• Despite FPU leading by as many as 13 in the second half, Dominican cut the lead to two with just over three minutes to play.
• An 11-3 run, sparked by Malazarte, Pisik and Ashley Cross, the next two minutes made the difference down the stretch.
 
STATS FROM THE GAME: 
• Malazarte finished 9-of-19 from the floor, while Pisik closed the afternoon with a 6-of-14 mark. Pisik also added three blocks and four steals.
• Felicia Dourva added 13 points and five rebounds, Cross totaled 11 points and five rebounds and McClard fell just short of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds for the 'Birds.
• Jerusha Paine scored 20 points for the Penguins, while Brittney Cedeno added 16.
• FPU outrebounded DUC 56-40 and scored 33 fast-break points.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Pisik's 25th career double-double is good enough for fifth place on FPU's career leaderboard, just behind Janee Young's ('94-95) 27.        
• Pisik has pulled down double-digit rebounds in three straight games, with 17 marking a season best for the senior. Her career best of 18 came during her freshman season against Cal Maritime.
• Malazarte's 28 points is just under her career best of 32, which came as a sophomore in 2018-19. She has scored 20 or more in five games this year. 

SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics 

UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds stay on the road in the Bay Area and take on Academy of Art on Thursday, Feb. 6. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco.