FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (17-6 overall, 11-4 PacWest) kept their undefeated home winning streak alive extending it to 9-0 Thursday night as they secured the win in a back-and forth game against the Dominican University Penguins (17-7 overall, 10-6 PacWest). 

The Sunbirds and the Penguins traded points early into the first quarter with the 'Birds converting layups from Bre Hurt and Maesyn Rix, along with a three from Julie Ramirez to tie the game 7-7. 

The scoring slowed as both teams struggled offensively with multiple turnovers. 

With two minutes remaining in the first, Jayla Green secured four straight points for the 'Birds with a layup and a pair of free throws. 

The first ended with the Penguins up three, 15-18. 

Dominican retained their lead into the second with strong play in the paint as the Sunbirds struggled to answer. 

A spark finally came for the 'Birds off a steal from Olivia Garcia passing to Joleen Corona who hit Jasmine Heu for the three to bring the 'Birds back within one 21-20 with seven minutes left in the second. 

Both teams continued back-and-forth, with points coming from layups by Green and Hurt as well as a threes by Green and Heu to tie the game 30-30. 

As time expired, Dominican converted their final possession of the second to take the 32-30 lead into the half. 

To open the third, the 'Birds retook the lead for the first time since the 4th minute in the first quarter behind a surge of offense highlighted by a layup from Hurt, another three from Ramirez and layup from Anisa Rillo to go up 37-32. 

The Sunbirds maintained their lead with the help of strong defensive play and layups from Green and Hurt and a pair of threes from Kem and Rillo. 

With an offensive spark of their own, the Penguins were able to bring themselves back within one to end the third 46-45. 

The fourth quarter marked the strongest offensive play for the Sunbirds all game. 

To start the fourth, the Sunbirds scored six unanswered with a layup and three off the steal of Felicia Dourva for Lydia Manu. 

Dominican stormed back off a pair of threes and a set of free-throws to retake the lead 55-54 with five minutes remaining in the game. 

Both teams traded point for point, until the 'Birds surged ahead with key points Ramirez, Hurt, and Green to retake the lead 60-58. 

Layups from Rix and Green helped seal the game as Fresno Pacific took the six point lead 64-58 with 26 seconds remaining. 

The Penguins were able to hit a three out of the timeout to bring themselves back within three but it proved not enough as Rillo hit a pair of free throws to ice the game and secure the 65-61 win for the Sunbirds. 

Green scored a career high 15 points leading all Sunbirds in scoring. 

In a game marked by 11 lead changes, the difference came on the glass with the Sunbirds out rebounding the Penguins an astounding 37-26.

Fresno Pacific will continued their four game home stand in the Special Events Center Monday at 1pm as they take on the Chaminade Silverswords. 

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