AZUSA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team picked up a 64-60 victory on Thursday afternoon, defeating three-seed Concordia in the quarterfinals of the PacWest Conference Tournament. Junior point guard Jessica Malazarte hung 31 points in the win to highlight the day for the Blue and Orange.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:

• Final: FPU 64, CUI 60  
• Records: FPU (17-12, 13-9 PacWest), CUI (17-11, 15-7 PacWest)
• Location: Felix Event Center | Azusa, Calif. 
• All-Time Series: FPU leads 37-29

 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The first half featured a back-and-forth defensive battle between the two teams, with both teams struggling to find the stroke in the early going.
• Ashley Cross connected on a jumper in the final minute to give the Sunbirds a two-point edge heading to the intermission.
• The third quarter saw FPU shoot just 3-of-17 from the floor but still remain within striking distance.
• A Felicia Dourva jumper put the Sunbirds in front 59-58 with under two minutes to play, and Cross came away with a steal under the bucket on the following Concordia possession. 
• After an FPU timeout, Cross' layup extended the lead to three, and Eagle guard Jasmine Rachal missed a game-tying three with :43 remaining.
• Cross grabbed the rebound and dished off to Malazarte, and the latter was fouled in transition by All-PacWest First Team selection Michaela Vanderklugt.
• Vanderklugt came out of the game, and Malazarte made the most of her trip to the charity stripe, sinking both free throws to extend the FPU lead to five.
• Kennedy Fulcher hit a jumper in the paint to bring the Eagles back within three, but Malazarte hit another free throw with five seconds on the clock to put the game on ice. 

 
STATS FROM THE GAME: 

• Cross and Dourva combined for 25 points and 15 boards, while Rachal, Fulcher and Vanderklugt all got into double-figures for Concordia.
• The Eagles won the rebounding battle 52-42, but the Sunbirds committed just three turnovers for the game, the lowest mark of any PacWest team in any game this season.  

 
BEYOND THE BOX:

• Malazarte finished two points off of her career-high.
• The victory is FPU's first ever postseason win since joining the NCAA ahead of the 2012-13 season.

 
SOCIAL:

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

 
UP NEXT:

• Fresno Pacific will take on the two seed and host school Azusa Pacific on Friday afternoon. Tipoff from the Felix Event Center is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.