FRESNO, Calif. -  A last-second shot from Academy of Art handed the Fresno Pacific women's basketball team their first conference loss of the season, as the Sunbirds were jilted by the Urban Knights 67-66 on Saturday evening.     

QUOTABLE:   

• "Our defense was inconsistent, and our ability to make the simple reads offensively created rushed possessions. Ultimately, we weren't connected on either side of the floor. This will make us better, but everybody will have some vitamins to take. I'll fight to prepare our team better and work tirelessly to put them in situations where they can find more success." – head coach Tim Beauregard

HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• The first quarter featured six lead changes, as the Urban Knights held a narrow 15-14 lead after the opening stanza.
• The 'Birds opened the second quarter with a 5-0 run, bookended by baskets from Rachel Berry.
• Vanessa Cochrane buried a three-pointer that gave the Blue & Orange a 30-19 lead with 3:07 left in the first half.
• ART U stormed back with a 10-1 run, but Bayli McClard nailed her second of four three-pointers during the game to help the 'Birds regain composure.
• Shortly thereafter, Jessica Malazarte buried a three-pointer, extending the FPU lead to 41-31 with 5:55 remaining in the third quarter.
• McClard continued to cook, as a layup from the Hanford, Calif. native gave the 'Birds a 55-43 lead with a quarter to go.
• The game was tied with 2:04 left, when Berry came up clutch, scoring four consecutive points for FPU, putting them up 66-62 with 0:54 remaining.
• As time wound down, the Urban Knights' Ladun Akako banked in a layup that put her team up by one with less than a second left.
• The Sunbirds never got a clean look at the rim, allowing ART U to escape with the narrow win. 

STATS FROM THE GAME:  

• McClard finished with another double-double, scoring 21 points, including a 4-for-6 performance from three-point range, while grabbing 10 rebounds.
• Berry contributed a double-double as well, scoring 15 points and pulling down a game-high 14 boards.
• Malazarte went 7-for-15 from the floor, resulting in 16 points toward the Sunbird total.
• As a team, FPU shot 40 percent (8-for-20) from three-point land, as they held their opponents to a 2-of-13 effort from deep.

UP NEXT:  

• A rematch between the 'Birds and ART U is scheduled for Tuesday in Belmont, Calif. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. from Walter Gleason Gymnasium. 

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