FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team played its first home game since Feb. 5 on Friday night, falling to Hawaii Hilo in a makeup game 56-46.
 
QUOTABLE
"Hilo is a tough team to guard, and we had some great possessions on that side of the court. The first half went exactly how we wanted it to go both offensively and defensively, and the second half we saw all the same opportunities come, and unlike the first half, we failed to capitalize offensively. We knew what we had to do, there was clarity on the route to a win, and ultimately it was the same issue for us, shot making. They made the ones that counted most, and we fell a little short. No flinch, just more belief in what's to come. We're excited about the challenge of being ready for another meaningful game on Sunday. We'll be ready and will relentlessly prepare for a different outcome." – head coach Tim Beauregard
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Neither team found a real edge in the first quarter, and in face changed leads seven times in the period, including with 32 seconds left thanks to free throws from Maesyn Rix.
• The Sunbirds closed out the first quarter on a 5-0 scoring run to give them a 12-11 lead, and they continued that run to start the second quarter, extending it to a 13-2 run.
• FPU led by as many as 10 in the first half after a jumper from Felicia Dourva gave them a 32-22 lead with 2:50 to go in the half.
• Hawaii Hilo was able to add two more points with just over a minute to go in the second quarter, but the Sunbirds were able to take a 32-24 lead into the break.
• The second half opened with some back and forth between the two teams, but towards the end, a six-point Sunbird lead quickly turned into a one-point Vulcans lead.
• FPU got a free throw from Joleen Corona to tie the game at 39, and then a layup from Rix to tie it back up at 41, but Hilo ultimately took a two-point lead into the final period.
• Hilo quickly went on a 6-0 run to open the fourth quarter, extending its lead to eight points with 5:24 left in the contest.
• Two free throws from Anisa Rillo cut the deficit back to six, but Hilo answered with a layup to extend their lead back to eight with 3:57 to go.
• The Vulcans wouldn't allow the Sunbirds to get into a rhythm during the last three minutes and took the road win.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• Rix put together a double-double in the contest, scoring 10 points and pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds.
• Rillo finished the contest with nine points and three rebounds.
• Dourva came away with eight points and three rebounds.

 
BEYOND THE BOX
Rix's 13 rebounds were a career high for the sophomore. Her previous career high was eight, which she set against Dominican on February 6, 2021. This is her third game this season with double-digit rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Blue and Orange will host Academy of Art on Sunday at 2 p.m. in a makeup game.
 
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