FRESNO, Calif.-In delivering its most complete and balanced performance of the season, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (8-12 overall, 3-10 PacWest) controlled the game from start to finish in a 79-51 victory over the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks (11-9 overall, 9-4 PacWest) Tuesday evening in the Special Events Center.

The Sunbirds set the pace from the opening tip when Felicia Dourva stole the ball batted by HPU and created an opportunity for Bre Hurt to score.

"It was absolutely the start from the first group," Fresno Pacific head coach Tim Beauregard. "You can point right to Felicia Dourva. Her mentality, Rachel (Berry)'s mentality, and that first group started a lock in from the opening tip."

Dourva backed it up with a 3 and FPU scored the first 7 points of the game.

Hawai'i Pacific drew closer at the free-throw line in the second quarter before a Lydia Manu three stretched the lead to 12. FPU took a 30-17 advantage into the break.

The pace quickened in the second half, with both offenses shooting around 40% in the third quarter.

The Sunbirds put the game away in the fourth quarter, knocking down four 3's and shooting an astronomical 64% from the field.

Fresno Pacific received contributions up and down the roster with Jenna Kurz and Joleen Corona each tied for the team lead with 12 points.

Aside from Dourva's 11, Sara Lundqvist added 9 points, Maesyn Rix and Bre Hurt contributed 8 a piece, Rachel Berry scored 6 and Olivia Garcia, Aaliyah Seuell, and Julie Ramirez all made at least one field goal.

"We told them after the game, Beauregard said. "We don't need anyone to score 30 points in a game, we just need everyone to be additive. You go down the line there was a lot of people that were additive tonight, it was fun to get something from everyone tonight."

The Sunbirds controlled the pace, and nearly every statistical category, but received the biggest advantage on the glass where they were plus-16 and converted 19 offensive rebounds into 18 second-chance points.

"We had 11 offensive rebounds in the first quarter," Beauregard said. "You talk about how to start a game and the mentality we need to have, we hammered the glass and set the tone from the beginning of the game."

Kurz led the way with 9 rebounds while Dourva's 8 and Ramirez's 7 loomed large as well.

Fresno Pacific continues the homestand against Chaminade on Saturday with tip at 2 p.m. in the Special Events Center.
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