ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – An offensive explosion helped the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (1-0 overall) beat the Sonoma State Seawolves (0-1 overall) 86-69 Friday night in the Wolves' Den.

The Sunbirds knocked down 15 three's for their first win of the season and first win the the CCAA/PacWest Challenge.

Joleen Corona was a perfect 4-4 from deep to lead the way with 16 total points while Olivia Garcia brought four three's to the party on a 50% shooting night from deep.

"I was really impressed with our depth tonight," Head Coach Tim Beauregard said. "Our two leading scorers and our assist leader were three non starters. That's the kind of thing we know can happen any night and tomorrow it could easily be three different players."

Fresno Pacific took their first lead of the game early in the first quarter 4-2 after two straight possessions with points featuring layups from Masyn Rix and Felicia Douvra.
 
The lead for the Sunbirds was short lived as the Seawolves went on a seven-point run to take the lead 11-4.
 
The Sunbirds came back quickly to take the lead with a fury of offense featuring the 'Birds free throws for Rix and Douvra, a pair of three pointer from Olivia Garcia and Douvra, as well as a jumper from Alyssa Kem.
 
The Sea Wolves answered back, but less than ten seconds later the Sunbirds Julie Ramirez hit the three with the kick out from Rix to take back the lead 21-19.
 
The first quarter ended with Ramirez heading to the line on back-to-back possessions and draining all four shots to give Fresno Pacific their largest lead of the game so far 25-19.
 
Both teams struggled offensively for the first minutes of the second quarter.
 
The first points for the Sunbirds in the quarter came off a three-pointer from Joleen Corona.
 
Points kept coming for Fresno Pacific behind a pair of three-pointers from Jasmine Heu and Garcia, a jumper from Rix, and a layup from Ramirez to take the 40-23 lead with three minutes left in the second quarter.
 
To end the second quarter, the Seawolves managed to score eight points to the Sunbirds three to bring them back within 12 at halftime.  
 
The offensive fire for the Sunbirds continued into the third quarter with a trio of three pointers from Heu, Garcia, and Rillo as well as a layup from Rix to put the 'Birds up 54-33.
 
Sonoma State and Fresno Pacific continued to trade points late into the third quarter.
 
Layups from Jayla Green and Rix as well as a three from Garcia ended the third allowing them to outscore the Seawolves 21-14 in the third and keep their large lead 64-45.
 
The attacking of the zone defense of the Seawolves kept up in the fourth for the Sunbirds as the success in kicking it out continued as Corona and Heu added to their totals with back-to-back possession threes to go up 71-47.
 
The offensive rhythm of the game picked up quickly in the middle of the fourth with both teams trading point for point from the free-throw line and the field.
 
Kira Wilmurt added her name to the score sheet recording the last points of the game for the 'Birds as she headed to the free-throw line knocking down two.
 
Time expired leaving the Sunbirds victorious 86-69 for their first win of the season.
 
The Sunbirds out rebounded the Seawolves 46-36 allowing the 'Birds second chance opportunities in which they capitalized on all night.
 
Ten different 'Birds scored on the night and FPU shot just a shade under 40% for the game.

Six different Sunbirds made at least one three to help FPU shoot 42% from downtown.

"I'm really proud of our togetherness tonight," Beauregard said. "We didn't play particularly clean on either end but we kept playing hard and connected."
 
Rix ended her night with an eleven point, eleven rebound double-double, which she achieved in just three quarters.

Green, making her FPU debut, scored four points but contributed six assists and five rebounds.

"We had a few stretches where we got sloppy with the basketball," Beauregard added. "But many of those stretches were followed by crisp ball movement and high quality shots."

The Sunbirds had great success on the offensive glass and were plus-10 rebounding on the night, which helped open up the three-point shooting.

"Quick turnaround for us with a 2pm tip," Beauregard concluded. "We will get some rest, and prepare for what we know will be a very tough challenge in Chico State tomorrow."
  
Fresno Pacific will continue the CCAA/PacWest Challenge tomorrow against the Chico State Wildcats Saturday afternoon at 2pm in Rohnert Park.
 
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