FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno Pacific women's basketball fought valiantly against the top contender in the conference, Azusa Pacific, on Tuesday evening. The Sunbirds trailed early, with APU establishing a 26-13 lead by the end of the first quarter, but FPU's Whitfield made it a challenge for the Cougars. Despite converting 26 of 31 free throws, Fresno Pacific could not overcome Azusa Pacific's offensive power, ending the game 65-88.

The game began with the 'Birds striking first with Angela Whitfield's layup at 9:26, establishing an early lead. After being out for two games, Whitfield's return to the court for the Sunbirds sparked something remarkable within the team. However, APU responded with a series of baskets, quickly closing the gap and taking control. Whitfield later added a three-pointer at 5:40 to keep the Sunbirds competitive, but the opposition maintained momentum with a strong offensive strategy. Despite Aaliyah Seuell's three-pointer in the last 24 seconds, Fresno Pacific trailed 26–13 at the end of the first quarter.

The Sunbirds managed a brief surge midway through the second quarter with a fast-break three-pointer by Nina Wisniewski at 6:59, assisted by Grace Brown, closing the gap slightly. However, turnovers and shooting struggles hindered further progress. The quarter concluded with the Sunbirds trailing 44-26.

FPU sparked momentum early in the third quarter with a 3-pointer by Whitfield at 9:27, assisted by Kira Wilmurt, narrowing the gap slightly. Azusa Pacific maintained control through consistent scoring, including a 3-pointer and few more layups to extend their lead. The Sunbirds capitalized on free throws, with Alexa Perryman hitting four successful attempts during the quarter, contributing to their 23 points. The quarter concluded with Azusa Pacific leading 68–49.

The Lady 'Birds opened the fourth quarter with a quick layup by Sienna Evans at 9:38 followed by another from Whitfield at 8:39. Strong performances from the bench gave the 'Birds a fighting chance, but Fresno Pacific struggled to contain Azusa Pacific's offensive pushes, including a key three-pointer at 7:04. Fresno Pacific continued to battle, with Viktoria Trailovic contributing late free throws and a layup, but they could not overcome the deficit. The game concluded with a final score of 88–65 in favor of Azusa Pacific.

Making an incredible impact on the court, Whitfield scored 16 points, made six field goals – just two shy from a career-high – and collected nine rebounds, demonstrating her impact on both ends of the court. The senior guard is currently ranked second in the PacWest in rebounds per game (8.9). Perryman finished with nine points, converting all seven of her free throw attempts to maintain her efficiency from the line. Evans added eight points and recorded five rebounds, contributing consistently throughout the game. Trailovic tallied seven points, making five of her six free throw attempts, solidifying her role in the team's scoring effort.

The Sunbirds hold a record of 5-8 overall and 2-6 in PacWest play.

NEXT UP: The Lady 'Birds face off against CUI on Thursday, Jan. 15 at 5 pm! Come down to the Special Events Center to cheer on your Sunbirds!

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