FRESNO, Calif. — In the final homestand of the season, Fresno Pacific women's basketball celebrated it's senior duo, Aaliyah Seuell and Angela Whitfield, after the conference matchup against Vanguard. The Sunbirds rallied brilliantly against the No. 1 team in the conference, but ultimately fell to the Lions 79-61. The Lady 'Birds made 11 three-pointers, but Vanguard's 40-22 rebounding advantage proved decisive.

"I am super proud of our two seniors and everything they have given to our program," said head coach Tim Beauregard. "Both Angela and Aaliyah have had quite a journey with basketball and when they found their way to our program, they were able to not only find their love and their joy for basketball again, but they both were able to blossom into incredible leaders. I am so thankful for the investment that they have made into our younger players and the commitment they have made to chasing the best version of themselves while they've been here. It was a great night to honor them."

In the first quarter, Kira Wilmurt's 3-pointer at 9:06, assisted by Seuell took the lead for the 'Birds. However, turnovers and fouls allowed the visiting opposition to shift momentum in the Lions' favor. Despite Mason Long's impressive 3-pointer at 7:00 that briefly regained the lead, Vanguard capitalized on their opportunities, including a stretch where they scored seven unanswered points to pull ahead. Vanguard's defensive pressure resulted in several steals and fast-break points, pushing them to a 23-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Sunbirds found a spark early in the second quarter with senior Seuell hitting back-to-back 3-pointers, the first at the 10:00 mark and another at 8:31 with an assist from Trinity Tolbert, to close the gap against Vanguard. Despite solid shooting from beyond the arc, the team struggled with turnovers, committing five in the quarter, which contributed to the Lions' ability to maintain pressure and extend its lead 45-30.

The Blue and Orange struggled to find momentum in the third quarter despite a solid defensive start. Tolbert contributed with a layup at 9:08, but Fresno Pacific faced difficulty converting opportunities. Freshman Long managed to narrow the gap with astounding back-to-back three-pointers at 4:40 and 3:40, assisted by Evans and Whitfield, respectively. Vanguard maintained control with a crucial three-pointer, which then concluded the quarter 63-42.

In true rallying fashion, the 'Birds made a late push in the fourth quarter, thanks to yet another three-pointer from Long, to tally 19 points overall. Despite Vanguard's early offensive pressure, Fresno Pacific responded with a mix of inside and outside scoring. Several 'Birds stepped up and got points on the board. Tolbert and Nina Wisniewski contributed at the free-throw line, while the Sunbirds' bench added 16 points. Although FPU outscored Vanguard in the quarter, the game concluded with the Lions winning 79–61, clinching their first ever PacWest conference title.

Offensively, Long led Fresno Pacific with a career-high 18 points, converting five 3-pointers from 10 attempts and shooting .417 or higher in every category. She built upon the momentum and contributed to the 'Birds late surge in the second half. Seuell contributed 11 points, sinking three shots from beyond the arc. Whitfield recorded six rebounds and added five assists. She has been a true leader for the 'Birds all season long, performing the best in team rebounds, blocked shots and minutes. She currently sits third in conference in rebounds and eighth in blocked shots. Freshman Evans posted 10 points and collected seven rebounds, providing a strong presence on the boards.

Fresno Pacific has a record of 9-17 overall and 6-15 in PacWest competition. Although the 'Birds proved their mettle all season long, all six slots for the PacWest Conference Championships have been clinched, ending the Sunbirds' chance of competing at the championships their final year within the conference.

NEXT UP: The 'Birds end regular season play on Saturday, February 28 with a conference matchup against Dominican at 1 pm.

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