FRESNO, Calif.- After a disappointing loss on Thursday, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds bounced back with a 54-47 win against the Biola Eagles Saturday afternoon at the Special Events Center. 

"Any PacWest win is a great win. I am super proud of our team for bouncing back after a tough loss. Our connectivity on defense was incredibly impressive for long stints of the entire game," said head coach Tim Beauregard. 

The first quarter began as a back-and-forth affair, with both teams settling into their offensive and defensive strategies. Bre Hurt opened the scoring with a layup, quickly followed by a free throw after drawing a foul. Jasmine Heu then connected on a three-pointer, giving the Sunbirds an early lead.

Despite turnovers, the 'Birds maintained their edge through hustle plays, including Julie Ramirez's defensive rebounds and a driving layup assisted by Jayla Green. The Sunbirds relied on their physicality in the paint, scoring six points near the basket and limiting Biola's second-chance opportunities. By the end of the quarter, Fresno Pacific led 14-12, setting the tone for the rest of the game. 

In the second quarter, the Sunbirds emphasized defensive discipline and efficiency at the free-throw line. The Eagles struggled to generate points off turnovers, allowing Fresno Pacific to sustain its slight lead. The Sunbirds proved effective off the bench, with Aaliyah Seuell contributing key free throws to maintain momentum.

Hurt continued to dominate, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the line in the half. Angela Whitfield also played a crucial role, hitting a three-pointer midway through the quarter to push the lead. The Sunbirds out-rebounded the Eagles 13-6 in the second quarter, controlling on the boards. The Sunbirds entered halftime tied at 28-28 after a late push by Biola.

The third quarter was marked by defensive intensity from both teams. However, offensively the Eagles outscored the 'Birds 14 to 10 points in the quarter. Heu's steal and fast-break layup were bright spots as the Sunbirds fought to regain momentum.

Hurt remained active under the rim, grabbing crucial rebounds, but turnovers plagued the Sunbirds, allowing Biola to stay within striking distance. Hurt and Whitfield combined for strong defensive efforts, blocking Biola's attempts to drive the lane. The quarter ended with Biola leading 42-38, setting up an exciting fourth quarter.

With the game on the line, the Sunbirds responded with a commanding fourth quarter. They outscored Biola 16-13, fueled by aggressive drives and timely scoring. Whitfield stepped up, drawing fouls and sinking critical free throws, finishing 3-for-9 from the line overall but hitting key shots late.

Ramirez hit a clutch three-pointer to reclaim the lead, and Hurt converted layups and defensive stops to secure the win. Fresno Pacific's 21 trips to the free-throw line in the game proved decisive, as they converted 75% of their attempts. Their defense tightened as well, forcing Biola into contested shots and turnovers.

The Sunbirds' ability to capitalize on free throws and dominate the boards, with 39 total rebounds were critical in securing their first PacWest victory.

"We know we have a lot of things to work on, but it is nice to get a win and still be hungry for growth," remarked Beauregard.  

"We had a lot of people make additive plays, which is all we need each night to find success. Bre was especially impactful in the fourth quarter when we needed a jolt, she carried us offensively and has the ability to do that nightly."

Fresno Pacific heads to up north for their first PacWest conference road matchup of the season against the Academy of Art Friday at 5pm with the men's game following at 7:30pm.  Both games will be streamed live on PacWest Network. 


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