SAN DIEGO-In the program's first ever PacWest title game, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds nearly upset the regular season champions and defending champions but fell to the Azusa Pacific Cougars 72-67 in overtime Saturday evening at Point Loma's Golden Gymnasium.

The Sunbirds found themselves down double-digits before quickly erasing the margin with a flurry of second half threes.

Fresno Pacific poured their heart and soul into the comeback attempt and sent Golden Gym's Fresno Crowd into a frenzy with a string of three-consecutive three-pointers.

The early going was fairly even before APU's double-digit lead.

After APU got on the board first, Felicia Dourva found Maesyn Rix for a layup to tie the game at 2-2.

The 'Birds found their way to the free-throw line over the next couple of possessions, but APU held a 7-6 lead four minutes in.

Down 9-6, Jasmine Heu buried a three from the right wing to tie the game at 9-9 heading to the first media timeout.

Azusa scored nine of the next eleven points to take an 18-11 lead.

Julie Ramirez hit a tough runner with the shot clock expiring to trip the difference to five before Azusa converted an offensive rebound into a layup.

Azusa led at the end of the first quarter 20-13.

The Cougars added the first five points of the second quarter to extend their lead to 25-13 before a Jayla Green free-throw.

Jasmine Heu and Julie Ramirez hit consecutive threes to trim APU's lead to five before the 2^nd quarter media timeout.

Azusa wiggled the lead back to 11 before the half at 35-24.

The Cougar lead reached fourteen points before another Heu three stopped the run.

Heu found Lydia Manu on the next possession for another FPU three-pointer.

Heu hit a three on the next trip down the slash Azusa's lead to 38-33 with 6:07 remaining in the third quarter.

Bre Hurt hit a pair of free-throws before Heu buried her fifth three of the game to tie it at 38.

After a pair of APU free-throws, Dourva and Joleen Corona hit consecutive threes to put FPU up 44-40.

Azusa tied the game at 44.

Dourva hit a difficult layup in traffic to put FPU up 46-44, but APU hit a buzzer beater to tie the game at the end of the quarter.

Azusa hit the first two baskets of the fourth quarter before Hurt answered with a layup.

Jayla Green quickly added a layup to make it a two-point game.

Azusa pushed it back to four points ahead of a pair of free-throws from Julie Ramirez.

Lydia Manu hit a corner three to put FPU back in front 55-54.

APU took the lead before Dourva's layup put FPU back up 57-56.
 
The Sunbirds had a 63-61 lead after another Dourva three and a Ramirez basket.

APU tied the game with 8 seconds left with both teams getting stops to force overtime.

Azusa took a four-point lead into overtime before a Dourva three pulled it back to one.

But APU sealed it at the line.

Dourva finished with a game-high 17 points while Heu went for 15 points on five threes.

Dourva also grabbed 5 boards and dished out 4 assists.

The 'Birds left it all on the floor with the #4 team in the country.

Fresno Pacific will await the NCAA DII Regional announcement on Sunday to find out if they qualified to continue the season.

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