By Ron Smith
January 10, 2026
 
(FRESNO, Calif.) Molly Garnand tied her career scoring record of 22 points to lead Westmont Women's Basketball (9-4, 5-2 PacWest) to a 62-49 win over the host Sunbirds of Fresno Pacific (5-7, 2-5). Garnand, who was 10 of 16 from the floor, also collected eight rebounds.
 
"We started to see Molly stepping up offensively last game as far as getting rhythm inside and playing the way she is capable of," noted Westmont's head coach Kirsten Moore. "She has worked really hard to be able to do that for us. I am proud of her for sticking with it and we are starting to see the results of what she is capable of doing inside. It was huge for us tonight for her to step up with that great presence with Jazmyn Shipp out tonight."
 
Sage Kramer added 12 points and four boards for the Warriors, while Lisa Kiefer continued her defensive prowess, tallying 14 rebounds (six offensive), three steals and two blocks. She also dished off four assists.
 
As a team, Westmont outrebounded the Fresno Pacific 41-25 and held a 17-4 advantage in offensive rebounds.
 
"We continued to be steady on the glass," offered Moore. "We are working hard to make that happen. Lisa has been phenomenal in that and continued to be tonight. Navine Mallon, off the bench, was such a great presence for us on the boards as well. She brought big energy for us."
 
Mallon recorded five rebounds – four on the offensive end – while notching two steals and scoring four points.
 
The Warriors started the game with a 15-0 run in the first six minutes.
 
"After two tough losses, we have been focused on defense," said Moore. "In particular, urgency in defending the three-point line. Against a Fresno team that is dangerous from three, I thought we did a really good job. That was able to get us through a rough shooting night."
 
Garnand accounted for the first six points on a pair of jumpers sandwiched around two free throws. Kramer added another couple of free throws before Garnand connected on a layup to make it a 10-0 game.
 
Kiefer scored her first points with a layup before Garnand did the same. The run concluded with a free throw by Navine Mallon.
 
Fresno Pacific scored the next five points before Mallon drained a triple to give the Warriors an 18-5 lead. However, the Sunbirds closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run to send the game into the second period with a score of 20-12.
 
The Sunbirds run continued after the break, with Fresno Pacific posting a 9-4 run to cut the margin to just three points (24-21). However, the Warriors outscored the Sunbirds 9-3 in the final four minutes and 20 seconds before intermission to make the score 33-24 at the break.
 
Garnand started the run with a layup. After a free throw by the Sunbirds' Nina Wisniewski, Mariah Brown landed a three for Westmont. Wisniewski followed with a jumper, but Brown did the same twice for the Warriors before the end of the half.
 
After play resumed, Fresno Pacific worked the deficit to just four (38-34) when Sienna Evans hit from beyond the arc three minutes into the third quarter. The Sunbirds were rebuffed, however, with a Warrior 13-5 run, giving Westmont a 12-point lead (51-39) at the end of the penultimate period. The first 10 of those points were produced by Garnand on five field goals. Skyler Knight's trey capped off the run for the Warriors.
 
Westmont held the Sunbirds to just 10 points in the final frame, preventing any possible comeback.
 
The Warriors will play their third of three games on the road when they head to La Mirada on Thursday to take on the Eagles of Biola (5-6, 2-4). Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.