ROCKLIN, Calif.- The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds closed out the regular season in style on Saturday afternoon beating the Jessup Warriors 62-39 in Warrior Arena. 

"Today was a fantastic way to close out the regular season, I am incredibly proud of our grit and togetherness," said head coach Tim Beauregard.

The 'Birds came out strong, asserting themselves defensively while capitalizing on the Warrior's early shooting struggles. Fresno Pacific took a commanding 5-0 lead with a three-pointer from Lydia Manu, setting the tone early for the 'Birds. The Warriors struggled mightily from the field, making just one of their fifteen shot attempts. Fresno Pacific's pressure led to multiple turnovers, and their fast-paced ball movement created open perimeter looks. Jasmine Heu nailed a three-pointer late in the quarter to push the lead to 13-3. By the end of the period, the Sunbirds held a comfortable ten point lead, thanks to their stingy defense and effective shooting from deep.

Fresno Pacific continued their dominance in the second quarter, extending their lead with a balanced offensive attack. Julie Ramirez and Bre Hurt found success in the paint, while Joleen Corona and Anisa Rillo connected on key three-pointers to widen the gap. The Warriors managed to find some offensive rhythm, getting to the free-throw line more frequently, but they remained ice-cold from deep. Fresno Pacific's defensive pressure forced Jessup into multiple turnovers, allowing the Sunbirds to control the tempo. By halftime, the 'Birds had built a commanding 31-16 lead, outscoring Jessup 18-13 in the second quarter.

The Sunbirds opened the third quarter with even more energy, using a mix of inside scoring and perimeter shooting to further stretch their advantage. The Sunbirds shot a game-high 50% from the field in the third quarter, with key contributions from Hurt and Ramirez. Their aggressive defensive play continued, limiting the Warriors to just nine points in the period. Fresno Pacific's ball movement was crisp, leading to open shots from deep, including another three from Heu. The Sunbirds outscored Jessup 21-9 in the quarter, ballooning their lead to 52-25 entering the fourth quarter.

With a comfortable lead, the Sunbirds slowed the tempo in the fourth quarter but remained composed on both ends of the floor. Jessup had their best scoring quarter, putting up 14 points, but it was far too little, too late. The Sunbirds' bench provided solid minutes, with Olivia Garcia and Aaliyah Seuell contributing from beyond the arc. The Warriors showed some fight in the final minutes, cutting slightly into the deficit, but the 'Birds lead was never in jeopardy. The Sunbirds secured a dominant 62-39 victory, wrapping up an impressive all-around performance with a strong defensive stand and efficient shooting from deep. 

"After a 10-day break between games, going on the road and playing with such connection, both offensively and defensively, speaks volumes about our collective maturity and mindset," remarked Beauregard.

"This is the perfect time of year to put together a complete performance, and we'll look to carry this momentum into the PacWest Championship next week. Nothing beats March basketball, we are grateful for the opportunity and driven to chase more together." 

UP NEXT

With the regular season closed, the Sunbirds will head to San Rafael next week, March 6-8th, for the PacWest Championships at the Conlan Center on the campus of Dominican University of California. The winner of the six-team, single elimination tournament will receive an automatic bid into the NCAA West Region Championships, March 14-17th. The 'Birds have earned the fifth-seed and will face the fourth-seed Westmont Warriors in the first-round Thursday at 2:45pm. 

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