SANTA BARBARA, Calif.- Improving in every quarter on their way to a monumental victory, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (20-7 overall, 14-5 PacWest) surged with a strong second half effort to defeat the Westmont Warriors (12-15 overall, 8-11 PacWest) 63-53 Wednesday night in Murchison Gymnasium.

Felicia Dourva scored all of her team-high 16 points in the 2^nd half as FPU sealed its 20^th win of the season.

It's the first 20 win season of the NCAA DII era and the first in 22 seasons for the program.

While FPU came out of the gates slow, they quickly caught up, overcoming a small deficit in the first quarter to tie the game by halftime.

That's when Dourva got going.

Fresno Pacific closed the third quarter by making three three's all of which involved the grad student from Lund, Sweden.

Dourva tied the game at 35 on an assist from Julie Ramirez and then Dourva found Joleen Corona for a go-ahead triple just a minute later.

On the next trip down, Dourva added her second three of the game to give FPU a six-point lead, and a 9-0 run, heading into the fourth.

Bre Hurt extended the run to 11-0 to open the quarter and Corona answered a Westmont three with a layup.

Dourva extended the FPU lead to 12 with another three and a patented jumper on consecutive possessions.

Westmont responded with a vengeance cutting FPU's lead down to three over the next five minutes as the 'Birds went scoreless.

Jayla Green ended the drought at the free-throw line and Lydia Manu gave FPU its first field goal in nearly six minutes before Dourva would add more to her night from the stripe.

Green, Ramirez, and Manu helped FPU ice the game from the line as the Sunbirds were 11-13 in the quarter and sealed the double-digit victory.

Dourva's second half outburst, coupled with Jayla Green's 13-point night, led a night in which FPU scored more and shot better in every progressive quarter.

"Fel again stamped her imprint on this win," head coach Tim Beauregard said. "Her mentality is what sets our tone and she's simply at her peak powers right now. She leads, we follow."

Led by Green, the bench was once again fruitful with 33 points, continuing add to its PacWest best average.

"I'm also continually impressed with Maesyn, Jayla, Bre, and Aaliyah," Beauregard added. "Those four battle bigger players every night and continue to set a physicality for our group that gives us a chance every night. "
  
"I'm really proud of our team's ability to win multiple ways," Beauregard continued. "This last month or so we've found ways and continue to improve in the margins. This last stretch of the season is a grind and I'm so impressed with how our group is still excited and enthusiastic to show up each day and chase a better version of our team. We're having a blast and plan to enjoy this last run with every chance we get."

The Sunbirds wrap up the regular season on Saturday against the conference's regular season champion Azusa Pacific at 2:00pm inside the Special Events Center.

There is plenty at stake as FPU will honor its three super seniors, Dourva, Maesyn Rix and Vanessa Cochrane. FPU will know what is needed to potentially lock up the #2 seed in the PacWest tournament while APU enters the game at 19-0 in conference play.

SUNBIRD SOCIAL 

• Twitter - @fpusunbirds 
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUsunbirds