FRESNO, Calif. – Despite leading by as many as 18 points, Fresno Pacific found itself in a dogfight with Academy of Art University women's basketball down the stretch inside the FPU's Special Events Center on Saturday afternoon. Multiple 9-0 runs in the fourth quarter brought the Urban Knights as close as five points with over a minute to play, but the Sunbirds ended up holding on for the 81-72 win. Seniors Pre'Franz Dominick (22 points, career-high 18 rebounds), Helena Orts (21 points, seven rebounds), and Jazzlynn Brewster (16 points) were all key, combining for 23 of ART U's 28 points in the fourth.

Although the Urban Knights began the game up 6-0, the Sunbirds pushed back to close the first quarter on a 19-5 run to gain a 24-13 lead heading to the second. Points off turnovers helped Fresno Pacific keep its double-digit lead through the end of the first half although Dominick got in a rhythm offensively.

From a 44-27 halftime lead, Fresno Pacific pushed its advantage to 18 in the final three minutes of the third quarter. The margin stayed in that vicinity until midway through the fourth when back-to-back Brewster 3-pointers sparked a 9-0 surge that also featured a three-point play conversion by senior guard/forward Hayley Pryor. With less than three minutes and 30 seconds on the clock, Brewster once again connected from long range and Dominick added six more for a second 9-0 push to make the score 77-72 FPU with 1:21 to go. The Sunbirds left the door slightly open by going 2-of-4 from the free throw line thereafter, but Academy of Art could not capitalize and dropped the final conference game of the 2017 calendar year 81-72.

ART U falls to 2-12 overall and 1-5 in PacWest play. Dominick tied her career-high with 18 rebounds which came alongside her team-high 22 points (her fifth time with 20+ points this year). Orts unloaded 21 points in addition to seven rebounds and five assists while a career-high four 3-pointers made pushed Brewster to 16 points in the contest.

Fresno Pacific, who improves to 6-8 overall and 4-2 in conference, had five Sunbirds score in double figures led by Bree Alvarez (16 points) and Ashley Cross (15 points off the bench). Cassie Pisik added 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The 2018 calendar year brings with it a pair of games in Hawaii as Academy of Art faces Hawaii Pacific on Jan. 3 then UH Hilo on Jan. 5.