SAN DIEGO, Calif.- It was a tough start to the new year for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds as they fell to the PacWest leading Point Loma Sea Lions Thursday afternoon 56-44 at the Golden Gymnasium. 

The game began with the Sunbirds struggling to find their rhythm offensively while the Sea Lions capitalized on its opportunities. Jasmine Heu scored the Sunbirds' first basket with a jumper in the paint to tie the game early. Despite their best efforts, the 'Birds faced difficulties converting on open shots, going 3-for-17 from the field in the quarter. Jayla Green provided some interior presence, grabbing rebounds and getting to the free-throw line, but Point Loma dominated the paint, outscoring Fresno Pacific 10-4 in that area. Senior Olivia Garcia gave the Sunbirds a much-needed boost off the bench with a three-pointer, but the Sunbirds ended the quarter trailing 16-8.

The Sunbirds picked up momentum in the second quarter, fueled by improved ball movement and contributions from the bench. Garcia opened the period with another three-pointer, cutting into the Sea Lion's lead. The 'Birds defense intensified, forcing five turnovers and blocking three shots during the quarter. Lydia Manu added a steadying presence, sinking a free throw and scoring inside to keep the Sunbirds competitive. Fresno Pacific also began to chip away at Point Loma's rebounding advantage, with Bre Hurt collecting defensive boards and finishing strong on the offensive end. Despite their improvements, Point Loma maintained a slight edge, and Fresno Pacific entered halftime down 27-22.

The third quarter saw both teams lock in defensively, with scoring coming at a premium. Fresno Pacific struggled to convert opportunities, shooting 3-for-15 from the field. Point Loma extended their lead early with two consecutive three-pointers. The Sunbirds clawed back into the game with a steal and fast-break layup by Green, who also contributed on the defensive end with key stops. However, the Sunbirds offensive struggles, coupled with the Sea Lion's dominance on the boards, left them behind at the end of the quarter, trailing 42-29.

In the final frame, the Sunbirds fought hard to close the gap, outscoring the Sea Lions 15-14 in the quarter. Hurt delivered a strong performance, scoring inside and pulling down key rebounds. Fresno Pacific's defense forced turnovers, and Green recorded steals to help spark a late rally. Garcia continued her impressive night from beyond the arc, sinking another three-pointer. However, the Sunbirds couldn't fully overcome their early struggles, and despite their efforts, Point Loma's consistent execution sealed the 'Birds 56-44 defeat. 

"It was a lot of fun to watch our defense step up to the challenge of guarding a very talented team both inside and out, I thought we set a tone defensively that certainly would have given us a chance to win the game had our shots fallen a little bit more," remarked head coach Tim Beauregard. "There is no flinch in our dream chase and we feel very good about the identity of our basketball team."

Up next, Fresno Pacific will head back out on the road as they head to Azusa to face the Azusa Pacific Cougars Saturday at 2:15pm, with the men to follow at 4:30pm. Both games will be streamed live on the PacWest Network. 

Beauregard concluded, "We have a very quick turnaround to get mentally and physically prepared for a tough Azusa Pacfic team, we look forward to that challenge."
 

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