FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team (4-9 overall, 0-7 PacWest) started the new year with a matchup against Academy of Art (3-9, 3-4 PacWest) on Monday afternoon, falling to the Urban Knights 66-53.
 
"Our game plan was to try to attack the paint, play off of two feet, attack the basket and finish in the key," head coach Tim Beauregard said. "I've got to find a way to get more out of them on a consistent basis. This is our worst loss in conference. We've got to refocus, recalculate and see if we can salvage the rest of this season."
 
The Sunbirds took control in the first period, leading by as many as four points after a 3-pointer from Aaliyah Seuell found the bottom of the net with 2:27 left in the opening quarter. The Urban Knights were able to take a one-point lead with eight seconds to go, but Rachel Berry stormed down the floor and made a layup as time expired to put FPU up 17-16 after 10 minutes of play.
 
A 3-pointer from Art U to open the second quarter gave them a two-point lead, but Felicia Dourva answered with one of her own two possessions later to re-take the lead.
 
They were able to hang on to that lead for about two minutes before the Urban Knights went up by one with 5:31 left in the half, but a made free throw from Olivia Garcia, followed by a defensive start and a layup from Berry put the Sunbirds up two with 4:36 to go.
 
Art U regained the lead and stretched it to four points with just over two minutes remaining, but the Sunbirds were able to go on a 6-0 run to take a 33-31 lead with three seconds to go, just before the Urban Knights scored a buzzer beater of their own to deadlock the game at 33 at the break.
 
In the second half, the Sunbirds were able to hold a lead for the majority of the third quarter, but a 13-4 run by Art U to close out the quarter put them up 52-45 heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
The Urban Knights' defense was able to stay strong in the final period, holding off the Sunbirds while continuing to extend their lead to as many as 13 points and hold on for the win.
 
Berry was just shy of a double-double, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds to go along with nine points. Julie Ramirez matched with nine points off the bench while adding seven rebounds.
 
The Sunbirds will be back in action on Thursday when they start a three-game road trip at Azusa Pacific. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:15 p.m.
 
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