HONOLULU, Hawai'i- Despite Julie Ramirez and Jasmine Heu scoring in double figures, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds fell 61-52 on Saturday afternoon to the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks at The Shark Tank. 

The Sunbirds came out aggressive, pushing the pace and looking to score inside. Bre Hurt and Ramirez made immediate impacts, with Hurt scoring in the paint and Ramirez converting a tough layup to give the Sunbirds an early lead. Fresno Pacific's defense was also active, coming up with multiple steals, disrupting the Shark's offense.

However, the Sharks responded with steady shooting and effective ball movement. The Sunbirds had trouble capitalizing on fast-break opportunities, missing a couple of open looks that could have given them the lead. Still, they managed to keep pace, with Ramirez knocking down a three-pointer to end the quarter tied at 14-14.

Fresno Pacific hit a cold spell in the second quarter, struggling to find their shot. Despite getting open looks, they shot just 2-of-17 from the field, including 0-for-8 from beyond the arc. Hawaii Pacific took advantage of this drought, particularly on the boards, where they out rebounded the Sunbirds 16-8 in the quarter.

The Sharks built a lead behind a crucial three-pointer, extending Hawaii Pacific's lead to seven. The Sunbirds, despite their offensive struggles, continued to battle defensively. Angela Whitfield provided a key block, while Rillo and Heu kept the back-court pressure high.

Ramirez momentarily gave Fresno Pacific a spark with a strong drive to the basket, drawing a foul and converting a free throw. However, turnovers and missed shots continued to hurt their momentum. Hawaii Pacific closed the quarter strong, with a layup giving them a 28-21 advantage heading into halftime.

Out of the half, the Sunbirds looked to regain their offensive rhythm, but their struggles continued. They went just 2-of-17 from the field, managing only nine points in the quarter. The Shark's interior defense tightened up, combining for multiple blocked shots.

Olivia Garcia provided a rare bright spot, hitting a deep three-pointer early in the quarter, but the Sunbirds failed to build on the momentum. Turnovers plagued their offense, and despite aggressive defensive pressure, they couldn't generate enough transition baskets to cut into the deficit.

Hawaii Pacific, on the other hand, executed well in the half-court, getting high-percentage looks and attacking the paint and continuing to get to the free-throw line, helping the Sharks extend their lead. By the end of the quarter, Fresno Pacific found themselves down 41-30, needing a big fourth quarter to mount a comeback. 

With their backs against the wall, Fresno Pacific came alive in the final period. They put up 22 points in the quarter—by far their best offensive stretch of the game. Ramirez and Heu spearheaded the comeback effort, with Ramirez hitting a crucial three-pointer and Heu attacking the basket with confidence.

The Sunbirds turned up their defensive pressure, forcing Hawaii Pacific into multiple turnovers. Rillo and Aaliyah Suell both converted layups to break the 'Birds scoring drought, cutting the deficit to single digits, and with under three minutes remaining, the Sunbirds had momentum.

However, Hawaii Pacific responded at the free-throw line, making 22-of-27 attempts for the game, hitting clutch free throws, keeping the Sunbirds at bay. The 'Birds fought until the final buzzer, but their earlier struggles proved too costly to overcome as Hawaii Pacific secured the 61-52 victory.

Despite a strong fourth quarter, Fresno Pacific's shooting struggles in the second and third quarters ultimately led to their downfall. Ramirez led the Sunbirds with 16 points, while Heu contributed 14. Defensively, they forced 24 turnovers, but Hawaii Pacific's ability to control the boards and convert free throws sealed the win.

UP NEXT

The Sunbirds will play their final game of their Hawai'i trip Monday against the Chaminade Silverswords at 7:30pm with the men's game to follow at 9:30pm. Both games will be streamed on the PacWest Network. 

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