FRESNO, Calif.- In a game by which they trailed by 22 points at the beginning of the second quarter, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds fought back to defeat the Chaminade Silverswords 74-70 in overtime Wednesday night at the Special Events Center.
The game opened with Chaminade asserting dominance on both ends of the floor, quickly building a commanding 26-8 lead. Chaminade capitalized on their size and presence in the paint, scoring 20 points inside. Fresno Pacific struggled to maintain possession, committing eight turnovers under the Silverswords' pressure, which they translated into eight points.
On the offensive end, the Sunbirds' shooting woes were evident, hittingt just 2 of 12 field goal attempts, with no success from beyond the arc. Foul trouble compounded their struggles, allowing Chaminade to go 6-for-6 from the line.
Jayla Green provided a spark with two free throws, while Angela Whitfield fought hard to secure defensive rebounds. However, the 'Birds' inability to establish rhythm in their offense left them in a significant deficit at the end of the quarter.
Chaminade scored again to start the second quarter, as the Silverswords took their largest lead of the game to 22. However, the Sunbirds regrouped in the second quarter, showing a glimpse of their potential. Outscoring Chaminade 19-13, they chipped away at the lead, reducing the deficit to 39-27 at halftime. This improvement was fueled by the Sunbirds' bench, which contributed 11 points in the quarter, offering a critical lift to the struggling starters.
Whitfield began to find her stroke, hitting a crucial three-pointer to energize the team. Meanwhile, Jasmine Heu and Olivia Garcia added critical offensive output, each delivering from the perimeter. Defensively, the Sunbirds limited the Silverswords to just three field goals in the quarter, leveraging tighter rotations and more aggressive closeouts on shooters. Despite this improved effort, Fresno Pacific still trailed, needing to carry the momentum into the third quarter.
The 'Birds continued to build on their second-quarter effort, winning the third quarter 18-14. Ball movement improved drastically, with the Sunbirds tallying five assists compared to none in the first quarter. This facilitated easier looks for shooters, as the team connected on three triples, two by Aaliyah Seuell.
Bre Hurt stepped up defensively, grabbing key rebounds and forcing the Silverswords into contested shots. The 'Birds also minimized turnovers, committing only two compared to eight in the first quarter.
Chaminade's offense stagnated as Fresno Pacific's defense forced hurried attempts. The Sunbirds entered the final quarter trailing by just eight points, 53-45, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
The Sunbirds played their best basketball of the night in the fourth quarter, outscoring Chaminade 16-8. Fresno Pacific's defense was stellar, holding Chaminade to their lowest quarter total, with just three field goals made. Key defensive stops came from Green and Lydia Manu, who combined for three steals.
Offensively, Whitfield and Heu showcased their leadership, each driving into the paint to draw fouls and earn points at the line. Julie Ramirez added a timely three-pointer, bringing the home crowd to their feet as the Sunbirds closed the gap to tie the game late. The Sunbirds' hustle was evident in their ability to contest every loose ball and rebound. Chaminade's early offensive rythm was effectively neutralized by Fresno Pacific's defensive adjustments. A pair of one missed and one made free throw for both teams ended the fourth with the score tied 61-61, as the game headed into overtime.
In overtime, Fresno Pacific exhibited poise and composure, outscoring Chaminade 13-9 to secure the win. Whitfield took charge, scoring 7 of her 11 points in the extra period, including clutch free throws to seal the game. Heu continued to play a critical role, setting up her teammates and hitting another three-pointer to maintain Fresno Pacific's edge.
Defensively, the Sunbirds clamped down, forcing turnovers and ensuring that Chaminade couldn't establish their rhythm. The Sunbirds' ability to get to the line—converting 8 of 10 free throws in overtime—proved decisive. The final moments saw Fresno Pacific execute flawlessly, running down the clock while keeping Chaminade at bay, culminating in a hard-fought come from behind 74-70 victory.
"Not a great start for us to the game, but as we started to find our footing defensively, we were able to string together some very good stretches of basketball," said head coach Tim Beauregard. "When you fall behind early, it's a team effort to get back in to the game and give ourselves a chance to win."
The win was a true team effort, with ten different Sunbirds scoring, 34 of which came from the bench highlighting the 'Birds' depth.
"I thought it was a testament to the kind of team that we have to be able to fight back with multiple people contributing at key times," continued Beauregard. "Our defense is and always will be the staple of our team, but some timely buckets from Bre and Anisa certainly helped down the stretch. We've had very competitive and lively practices these last few days and it was great to see our desire to get back in the win column, come to fruition in a gritty way."
The Sunbirds will earn some much needed rest over the weekend and be back on the court Monday afternoon as they take on the Academy of Art at 1pm with the men's game to follow at 3:30pm at the Special Events Center.
Both games will be simulcasted on ESPN 790 AM and the PacWest Network.
"We feel like we have much better basketball to play from start to finish of games, we will continuously chase that best version of our team each day until we get there."
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