SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – #5 Fresno Pacific fell 70-54 to #4 Westmont in the first round of the PacWest Championships Thursday afternoon at Dominican University's Conlan Center.  The loss eliminated the 'Birds from the tournament and ended their season with a final record of 14-14 (10-10 PacWest). 
 
"I couldn't be prouder of our team and our program," said head coach Tim Beauregard. "Our 9 seniors have consistently cared about the right things, day in and day out, and are leaving this program better than they found it. No matter how far you go, the season always seems to end abruptly, but as the heartache begins to fade, I hope this group feels immense pride in all they accomplished this year. What stands out most to me is their unwavering commitment to one another, they are a special group of women who lift each other up and make each other better-every single day, year after year." 
 
The first quarter began fairly evenly, with both teams trading points on both ends of the floor.  Julie Ramirez laid up the Sunbirds' first points of the game after Westmont led early with two baskets.  FPU was efficient from behind the arc, knocking down a trio of threes going back and forth with the Warriors.  FPU ended the quarter on an 11-3 run to hold a 19-13 lead after the first, capped off by a driving jumper at the horn by Anisa Rillo.
 
Westmont's bigs began to assert their dominance in the second quarter as the Warriors turned the game around offensively and defensively.  Molly Garnand and Lisa Kiefer used their height to control the paint and out-rebound the Sunbirds 13-4 in the quarter.  Their defense was strong, holding FPU to eight second quarter points and extending their own lead to as high as nine.  Jasmine Heu buried a three late on to cut Westmont's halftime lead to 35-27.
 
Westmont's Kiefer, who was named PacWest Defender of the Year on Wednesday, was unstoppable coming out of the break.  The German used her 6'2" frame to knock down three consecutive layups and extend the Warriors' lead to 13.  The game started getting away from FPU, who made only one of their first eight field goal attempts to start the quarter, but then began to chip away at the lead toward the tail end of the third.  Angela Whitfield hit a pair of jumpers and Joleen Corona buried a three as part of a 11-3 run late.  But the Westmont bigs continued to dig out offensive rebounds, creating numerous second chance opportunities.  Westmont led 53-41 after three quarters.
 
The Sunbirds had to get clever in the fourth to get around Westmont's size advantage, trying to force the Warriors into fouls.  But they couldn't slow them enough as the Warriors continued to own the rebounds and control the tempo of the game.  Westmont would outrebound the sunbirds 46-25 in the game, with 22 alone on the offensive glass.  Westmont's lead ballooned to 18 with five minutes to play.  The 'Birds never gave up, but were outmatched defensively and could not swing the momentum down the stretch.  Their season would come to an end with five seniors on the court, by a score of 70-54.
 
Bre Hurt led the scoring with eight points in her final game for FPU and was one of 10 Sunbirds to score.  For Westmont (18-10, 13-7 PacWest), Garnand and Keifer combined for 24 points but it was Noemie Bariteau who came on late in the game to lead the team with 16.  All-PacWest First Team selection Sage Kramer had 11. 
 
Perhaps bigger than the end of a season is the end of the careers of nine super Sunbirds whose combined legacy will leave their mark on this program for years to come.  For coach Beauregard and staff, they will get right back to work preparing for next season with the intentions of returning to the postseason once again. 

"These past few years with our nine seniors have reminded us that the most important part of our program has always been getting the right people here, and then serving them as people while they drive the bus, that's what its all about," concluded Beauregard. "We've been able to give our university and our larger community something to be proud of. While basketball is part of that, it's the bigger, more meaningful things that matter, who these women are and how they show up for each other, that shines the brightest."
 
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