FRESNO, Calif.- A second half surge came up short for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds Wednesday night as they fell to the Stanislaus State Warriors in a non-conference midweek match up.
The Sunbirds began the game with energy but faced challenges as Stanislaus State exploited their interior defense.
Jasmine Heu opened scoring with a three pointer just 27 seconds in, putting the Sunbirds on the board. However, the Warriors responded with back-to-back layups, showcasing their dominance in the paint.
Turnovers plagued Fresno Pacific early, with seven committed in the quarter, allowing Stanislaus State to score 10 points off those errors. Despite Angela Whitfield's efforts to keep the game close with a pair of strong drives to the basket, the 'Birds struggled to find rhythm, shooting just 33% from the field. By the end of the period, the Sunbirds trailed 18-11, with the Warriors controlling the tempo through a combination of interior scoring and defensive stops.
The second quarter saw the Sunbirds attempting to claw their way back into the game. Olivia Garcia hit a critical three pointer midway through the quarter, narrowing the deficit. The 'Birds bench stepped up, contributing six points, including key minutes from Lydia Manu and Jayla Green, who battled on the boards and provided energy on defense.
Defensively, Fresno Pacific adjusted slightly, limiting Stanislaus State's fast-break opportunities and holding them to 10 points in the quarter. Despite their efforts, Stanislaus maintained a narrow lead, continuing their dominance inside, converting a layup and drawing fouls to keep her team ahead. The Sunbirds went into halftime trailing 28-23, struggling to convert on second-chance opportunities despite their hustle on the offensive glass.
Coming out of halftime, the 'Birds found their groove, outscoring the Warriors 22-14 in a thrilling third quarter. Whitfield took charge, scoring eight points, including two three pointers. The Sunbirds' ball movement improved significantly, resulting in four assists for the quarter, with Manu and Heu finding open shooters on the perimeter.
The 'Birds defense also tightened up, forcing contested shots and limiting the Warriors to 33% shooting. Green and Bre Hurt anchored the interior, combining for six rebounds and disrupting the Warrior's attempts in the paint. The Sunbirds tied the game briefly late in the quarter on a Whitfield 3-pointer but went into the final frame trailing narrowly, 45-42.
The final quarter was a battle, with both teams trading baskets and leads early. Heu and Whitfield continued to score key points, but the 'Birds kept missing critical opportunities to close the gap. Stanislaus State took over in crunch time, scoring timely baskets and drawing fouls to extend their team's lead.
Fresno Pacific's turnovers resurfaced as a critical issue, with five in the final frame, cutting short any chance of a comeback. Despite a strong defensive rebounding effort from Hurt and Green, the Sunbirds were unable to muster enough offense down the stretch. Ultimately, the Warriors outscored the Sunbirds 20-13 in the fourth quarter, securing a 62-58 victory.
Fresno Pacific will be back on the court Saturday as they head up north to face the Cal State East Bay Pioneers at 2pm at the Pioneer Gymnasium.
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