FRESNO, Calif. — Fresno Pacific women's basketball returned to the Special Events Center for one of the last few conference matchups of the season. The Sunbirds ultimately fell to Menlo, 84-71 on Saturday afternoon despit putting up a valiant fight from beyond the arc. As a team, Fresno Pacific recorded 13 steals and 45 bench points, but could not overcome Menlo's 47-28 rebounding advantage.

Fresno Pacific opened the game with a strong defensive presence, recording five steals and two blocks in the first quarter. Nina Wisniewski contributed significantly by scoring multiple key baskets, including a 3-pointer to tie the score at 16. Despite Wisniewski's efforts and a last-second free throw by Alexa Perryman, the Sunbirds trailed Menlo 18–17 at the end of the first quarter.

The Sunbirds made a strong push in the second quarter, briefly tying the game at 20 with a 3-pointer by Mason Long at 9:20, assisted by Kira Wilmurt. Despite Menlo's response, the home team continued to fight back, with Angela Whitfield sinking a 3-pointer at 4:02 to edge Fresno Pacific ahead 28-27. However, Menlo regained control in the closing minutes, securing a 19-14 advantage for the quarter and a 37-31 lead at halftime.

In a challenging third quarter, Menlo secured an early advantage. Ashley Aughterson's layup, assisted by Trinity Tolbert, initiated the Sunbirds' scoring, and Sienna Evans added a three-pointer to narrow the gap to 42-36 at 7:50. Despite efforts including Wisniewski's layups and a three-pointer by Aaliyah Seuell on a fast break, the Sunbirds trailed throughout the quarter. Menlo extended its lead on three-pointers and controlled the boards, ending the quarter ahead 60-43.

Fresno Pacific rallied in the fourth quarter with a strong offensive performance, scoring 28 points to Menlo's 24. Whitfield contributed significantly, opening the quarter with a layup and later adding a crucial 3-pointer. Seuell bolstered the scoring with two back-to-back 3-pointers from the same spot during the period. Despite the Sunbirds' efforts, Menlo maintained its lead through consistent free-throw shooting. The game concluded with Menlo securing an 84–71 victory.

Wisniewski led the Sunbirds with 20 points, converting 7 of 14 field goals, and added three steals. Long scored 15 points, making five 3-pointers. Whitfield contributed 12 points while recording six rebounds and three assists. Seuell added nine points, all from beyond the arc.

Although head coach Tim Beauregard was out for the game, assistant coach Santino Reynolds stepped in and led the team against the Oaks.

Reynolds mentioned, "I'm extremely proud of the fight from our group tonight, especially our seniors, Angela and Aaliyah. I thought we did a great job playing with pace and creating quality looks for each other. Seventeen assists is a season high for us, and I think that really showed in our shot selection. We didn't rebound with the intensity we needed, but I give a lot of credit to Menlo—they moved the ball extremely well offensively. Their passing stretched us and made it tougher for us to control the glass. I'm excited to see how we respond on Thursday for Senior Night. I fully expect a great effort as we honor our two seniors."

The Sunbirds have a record of 9-16 overall and 6-14 in PacWest play.

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