FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds PacWest home opener failed to go the 'Birds way as they fell 49-26 to the Westmont Warriors Thursday night at the Special Events Center.
The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams trading stops and turnovers in a low-scoring first quarter. The Sunbirds struck first with a layup from Julie Ramirez, with the assist from Jasmine Heu. Westmont responded quickly with a layup off a fast break, tying the score early.
Both teams struggled to find offensive rhythm, combining for a total of 12 turnovers in the period. Westmont showcased their rebounding prowess early, pulling down critical boards to keep possessions alive. The 'Birds' defense forced four steals, limiting the Warriors' opportunities. However, the Sunbirds struggled offensively shooting just 20% from the field—kept the game tied at six at the end of the first quarter.
Westmont seized momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Fresno Pacific 20-11. The Warriors took over offensively, scoring consistently with a mix of mid-range jumpers and drives to the basket, also converting second-chance points, aided by their dominance on the glass.
Jayla Green provided a brief spark with a three-pointer, narrowing the deficit to 10-9 early in the period. However, turnovers continued to plague the Sunbirds, as they committed six in the quarter. Bre Hurt tried to keep her team within striking distance, scoring five points, including a jumper and a layup, but the Warrior's bench added timely contributions to extend the lead. Westmont also capitalized on Fresno Pacific's foul trouble, converting four-of-five free throws in the quarter. At the half, Westmont led by nine, 26-17.
The third quarter was decisive, as Westmont dominated both ends of the court, outscoring the Sunbirds 23-9. The Warriors kicked off their offense in the third by sinking a three-pointer and consistently attacking the paint. Westmont's defense also turned up the pressure, forcing Fresno Pacific into ten turnovers in the quarter.
The 'Birds offensive woes persisted, with the team shooting just 30% from the field and missing several opportunities near the basket. Hurt scored on a layup off a pass from Ania Rillo, but the Sunbirds' offensive flow was disrupted by Westmont's aggressive traps and steals. The Sunbirds' defense was unable to slow Westmont's ball movement, leading to open looks from beyond the arc and inside the paint. The Warriors pulled away even further, up 49-26.
The Sunbirds showed resilience in the final quarter, outscoring Westmont 14-7, but the deficit was too large to overcome. The Sunbirds improved their ball security and focused on attacking the paint, with Green and Hurt leading the effort. Hurt added a pair of layups, while Green contributed on both ends with a steal and a contested finish at the rim.
Westmont slowed their pace, focusing on running down the clock and maintaining their defensive intensity. Despite Fresno Pacific's late efforts, the Warriors continued to control the tempo, securing key rebounds and draining free throws to keep their lead and ultimately secure the victory 56-40.
Up next the Sunbirds will welcome the Biola Eagles to the Special Events Center. The women tip off at 2pm PT, followed by the men at 4:30pm PT. Both games will be simulcasted live on ESPN Radio 790 AM and the PacWest Network with the new voice of Sunbirds basketball, KSEE24 and CBS47 Sports Director Scott Bemis, providing play-by-play commentary.
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