Box Score FRESNO, Calif.- Trailing at one point by as much as 18, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds displayed their grit and tenacity coming back in the fourth quarter to beat the Vanguard Lions 59-54.

The opening quarter saw Vanguard assert their dominance, storming to a 24-8 lead. The Lions' offense was fueled by efficient ball movement and strong interior play, shooting 52.6% (10-of-19) from the field. The Lion's ability to finish in the paint and Ybarra's perimeter shooting created early problems for Fresno Pacific's defense.

On the other end, the Sunbirds struggled to find their offensive rhythm, shooting just 26.7% (4-of-15) from the field and going 0-of-7 from three-point range. Angela Whitfield and Jayla Green scored inside to give Fresno Pacific brief momentum, but turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Vanguard to maintain control. The Lions' high-pressure defense forced seven Sunbirds turnovers, leading to fast-break points and a commanding lead heading into the second quarter.

Fresno Pacific regrouped in the second quarter, showing resilience and tightening their defense. The Sunbirds outscored Vanguard 14-8, cutting the deficit to 10 points by halftime. Whitfield led the charge, scoring seven points in the quarter, including a deep three-pointer that energized her teammates and the crowd. 

Defensively, Fresno Pacific stepped up, forcing eight Vanguard turnovers and holding them to just three field goals. Bre Hurt found success in the post, scoring two critical jumpers and helping to neutralize Vanguard's interior attack. Joleen Corona came off the bench to provide a spark, knocking down a much-needed three-pointer midway through the quarter.

The Sunbirds also controlled the boards, with Whitfield and Hurt grabbing key rebounds to limit Vanguard's second-chance opportunities. Despite their improved play, Fresno Pacific trailed 32-22 at halftime but appeared to have regained momentum. 

The Sunbirds came out of the locker room with renewed intensity, outscoring Vanguard 18-13 in the third quarter to pull within striking distance. Fresno Pacific's three-point shooting, which had been nonexistent in the first half, finally came alive. Green hit a corner three early in the quarter, and Whitfield followed with another from the wing, igniting the Sunbirds' offense.

Fresno Pacific's defensive adjustments paid off as they held Vanguard to just 33.3% (5-of-15) shooting in the quarter. Trinity Tolbert provided a boost off the bench, hitting a baseline jumper and grabbing a steal that led to a fast-break layup by Kate Evans.

On the boards, Hurt and Green continued to dominate, combining for nine rebounds in the quarter. Vanguard struggled to maintain their offensive flow under Fresno Pacific's increased pressure, committing five turnovers. As the quarter ended, the Sunbirds had trimmed the lead to 45-40, setting up a thrilling final frame.

The final quarter belonged to the 'Birds as they outscored Vanguard 19-9 to secure the win. The Sunbirds displayed poise under pressure, executing on both ends of the court. 

Corona delivered one of the game's biggest moments, hitting a clutch three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Sunbirds their first lead of the game at 47-45. Vanguard tied the game, but not for long as Whitfield followed with the bucket and a foul to put the 'Birds back up. 

Defensively, Fresno Pacific was relentless, holding Vanguard without a field goal for the final two minutes. The Lions depsetate to claw back in the game began to foul, but the 'Birds converted their free throws in the final minutes to ice the game.

The Sunbirds capitalized on Vanguard's mistakes, forcing four turnovers in the quarter and converting them into six points. Fresno Pacific's 29.6% three-point shooting for the game belied their late-game accuracy, as they hit three of their final five attempts from deep to seal the 59-54 victory.

"Once again, not the ideal start to a game but the mentality shift from our team in the second quarter continuing into the second half was really fun to watch," said head coach Tim Beauregard. "I was glad we were able to find an offensive rhythm against their zone which allowed us to connect a few passes and find high-quality shots the second half of the game. The defensive end of the floor continued to give us an opportunity to fight back into the game, with multiple people stepping up and giving multiple efforts, we were able to limit their runs as well as give us some possessions to play in transition. A couple of timely buckets is all we need on a night to night basis to give ourselves a chance, it was fun to see people step up and take the big shots when we needed them most."

Looking to carry their momentum, the Sunbirds will host the Jessup Warriors at the Special Events Center Thursday at 5pm with the men's game to follow at 7:30pm.

Both games will be simulcasted on ESPN 790 AM and the PacWest Network. 

"It was a great way to finish a long three game week and we will enjoy trying to get everybody healthy before we embark on the next handful of weeks where we need to be at our best." 

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