FRESNO, Calif.-A strong shooting night from all over the roster supported another effort that is becoming the norm for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (9-2 overall) and turned into a 75-47 victory over the UC Merced Bobcats (3-8 overall) Tuesday afternoon inside the Special Events Center.

The Sunbirds used the sixth double-double of the season from forward Maesyn Rix and multiple threes from freshman Kira Wilmurt, redshirt-sophomore Aaliyah Seuell, and senior Anisa Rillo to extend their winning streak to five games before Christmas break.

"It was a great team win tonight," Head Coach Tim Beauregard said. "All we ask every game is that everybody comes in the game and tries to be additive.  We are seeing consistently right now that it is possible for this group to live up to that challenge. Anybody, any night."

In the second meeting of the season at the same venue between the two programs, the Sunbirds showed their growth by tightening the defense clamps against the Bobcats, who were without their leading scorer.

Rillo and Julie Ramirez helped set FPU on the right foot out of the gates to spur a 7-0 run. UC Merced hung tight for much of the first quarter, remaining within a possession before Rix and Ramirez closed the period with baskets and an 18-12 FPU lead.

The second quarter was much of the same for FPU with freshman Alyssa Kem's three pointer pushing the FPU lead to nine points.

After Merced trimmed it back to six, Seuell and Wilmurt each drilled threes top kickstart a 10-0 FPU run and push the Sunbirds toward a 14-point halftime lead.

Rix had eight of her game-high 18 points in the second quarter and had 12 points and 7 boards at the break.

From there, Rillo started the scoring in the second half for FPU again, scoring its first five points.

Olivia Garcia, Joleen Corona and Felicia Dourva all joined the three-point party in the second half as FPU finished with 11 treys, its second highest total of the season.

The Sunbirds strongest quarter, as it has been for much of the win-streak, came in the fourth with the latter two hitting their threes in the final period before Wilmurt knocked down her third for the final FPU basket of the game.

Fresno Pacific's five-game winning streak, specifically the 3-0 Hawai'i trip, has them atop the PacWest standings heading into the Christmas break.

All nine of FPU's wins, including the five game streak, have been by double-digits, with the 28 point margin its most lopsided win of the season.

"It's great to get a win right before Christmas break," Beauregard added. "And although we are happy with the way we are playing, we are more excited that we know we can be better. There are multiple areas where we will fight for improvement. As we continue to chase that better version of our team, we will undoubtedly find more and more success."

Rix tied her career-high with 18 points and posts her third consecutive double-double. She also stuffed the stat sheet with three assists and three steals.

Wilmurt, who has played in all 11 games of her freshman season, posted her career-high with 11 points while fellow freshman Kem registered her first five collegiate points.

Rillo rounded out the Sunbirds' double-digit scorers with 10 points including 2-3 on threes.

Jayla Green was the other Sunbird in double-digit rebounds with 10.

Fresno Pacific saw nine different players make a field goal Tuesday while 12 different players grabbed at least one rebound.

Three different players-Rix, Dourva, and Lydia Manu finished with three assists while Rix and Rillo each finished with three steals a piece.

"A little time with our families and loved ones is important before we continue the challenge of PacWest basketball" Beauregard concluded. "It'll take a little more focus, a little more togetherness, and a little more commitment for us to get where we want to get to. The joy will be in the chase."

Fresno Pacific will have ten days off from games before returning to action against Southern California Leadership Academy on December 29^th at 2 p.m. in the Special Events Center.

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