OAKLAND, Calif.- In a game that perfectly illustrated the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (16-6 overall, 10-4 PacWest) at their best, converting offensive rebounds into points and generating a season-high in steals in a 71-60 win over the Academy of Art Urban Knights (4-17 overall, 3-12 PacWest) Saturday at Laney College.

The win is number 100 in the career of head coach Tim Beauregard and displayed the depth, balance and relentlessness that he has envisioned for this group of Sunbirds.

"We know we have the ability to win different types of games and today we needed to tap into that experience," Beauregard said. "ART U presents an interesting challenge with how they play. You can tell how together of a group they are. They are young but it's easy to see what type of team they are building."

Seven different Sunbirds scored in the first quarter as FPU jumped out to a 20-8 lead.

It was a full blown team effort as six different 'Birds had a steal and FPU forced 8 turnovers in the period.

Dourva led the scoring with 7 points in the first ten minutes, including a sweet running bank shot as time expired in the first to stretch FPU's lead to 22-8 after one.

The 'Birds would stretch the lead to as much as 17 as Jayla Green got going on the glass and on the offensive end.

Green had 9 points in the first half, and while the second quarter was a bit tighter, the Sunbirds assured themselves of a double-digit lead at the half, up 38-22.

But the Academy of Art found some rhythm coming out of halftime and scored on four of its first seven shots in the third to spark a 12-2 run and pull within six points midway through the third quarter.

While the 'Birds found more offense to close the quarter, ART U had still made it a ball game heading into the fourth with FPU up 46-40.

But FPU's, while FPU's offense was quiet in the middle quarters, it regained its balance in the fourth with eight different scorers in the period.

"I was really proud of our resolve," Beauregard added. "After a good first half and a rough third, in the fourth, we stayed poised and had multiple people make big plays when we needed them most."

Dourva poured in nine more points in the period for a team-high of 17 points.

Green added a layup to earn her first double-double as a Sunbird with 11 points and 12 boards. Green also led FPU's block effort with a pair of rejections. The 'Birds had a season-high 5 blocks.

Green and Rix, who added 12 points, combined for 17 rebounds. The post duo led a charge for FPU that helped edge their hosts with 16 offensive rebounds, which was converted into 23 points.

The 'Birds also used a season-high 14 steals, led by Rix with 4, to create 29 points off turnovers.

Ten different Sunbirds hit field goals, eleven different players scored, and FPU grabbed its tenth conference win of the season.

"Anybody any night," Beauregard continued. "Tonight, we showed how we can win with this approach."

The win already sets FPU up with its most wins since 19-20 with six games remaining in the conference schedule.

It also puts FPU back in 2^nd place thanks to Dominican's 59-58 loss to Westmont on Saturday.

The 'Birds will immediately get a chance to avenge their most recent loss when it gets back to Fresno.

"Excited to get home, rest, and prepare for a big game Thursday." Beauregard concluded.

Fresno Pacific returns home next week to begin a four-game homestand, its largest stretch of home games this season, beginning at 5pm on Thursday against Dominican inside the Special Events Center.

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