By Ron Smith
February 28, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Women's Basketball (12-15, 8-11 PacWest) welcomed the Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific (20-7, 14-5) to Murchison Gymnasium for the first time in 12 years on Wednesday evening. The visitors, who are in second place in the PacWest standings, downed the Warriors 63-53 in a closely contested game.
 
The win by the Sunbirds puts Fresno Pacific in the driver's seat for securing the number two seed in the upcoming PacWest Tournament and a bye in the first round. With a little help, however, it remains possible that Point Loma could still sneak past Fresno Pacific and steal the number two seed.
 
Westmont jumped out to a 15-11 lead in the opening frame with Sage Kramer scoring six points, Isabella Pearson contributing five and Bailey Fong adding four more. Neither team shot well from the floor in the outset of the game, with both scoring on 5 of 17 attempts. The difference was Westmont going four for four from the charity stripe. Westmont forced seven turnovers during the first quarter, four of which were the results of Warrior steals.
 
The score flipped in the second quarter with the Sunbirds tallying 15 and the Warriors posting 11, resulting in a 26-26 tie at the intermission. Aleena Cook led the way for Westmont in the second period with five points, Bailey Fong added three more and Kristan Yumul tallied three on a bucket from beyond the arc.
 
Both teams reached five team fouls resulting in more time at the free throw line. Fresno Pacific went four of nine in the quarter while Westmont was one of four.
 
The Sunbirds outscored the Warriors 6-4 in the first five minutes of the third quarter to lead 32-30. After the media timeout, however, Madi Bogan hit a triple and Fong scored on a jumper to put the Warriors ahead 35-32 with 3:41 remaining in the penultimate period. However, Fresno Pacific responded with three unanswered 3-point field goals – two by Felicia Dourva and one by Joleen Corona to take a 41-35 lead headed into the final frame.
 
Fresno Pacific continued their run with a jumper by Breanna Hunt in the fourth quarter, putting the Sunbirds up 43-35. Three Warrior free throws – one by Pearson and two by Kramer - reduced Westmont's deficit to five to (43-38). However, the Sunbirds produced a 7-0 run to go up 50-38 with seven minutes to play in regulation.
 
Fong immediately responded with a jumper in the paint to spark a 9-0 run by the Warriors. Fong continued the offensive effort with a triple, then stole the ball and scored on a fast-break layup. Destiny Okonkwo concluded the run with a second-chance layup after an offensive rebound by Kramer. As a result, Westmont pulled to within three (57-47).
 
However, the Sunbirds scored the next six points and regained a nine-point advantage (56-47) with less than a minute to play. The Warriors pulled within seven, but no closer.
 
Fong tallied 17 points in the game to lead the Warriors. Kramer added 11 points and Okonkwo notched 11 rebounds.
 
Westmont will close out the regular season on Saturday when they host Concordia in a 5:30 p.m. game. Prior to the contest, three seniors – Cook, Okonkwo and Laila Saenz - will be honored for their contributions to the Westmont Women's Basketball program. Fans are encouraged to arrive early for the festivities.