COSTA MESA – Women's basketball hosted Fresno Pacific in the City of the Arts for the first time since 2012, as the Lions raced to a 72-44 win Saturday afternoon inside the Freed Center. Both teams traded runs in the first half, but Akilah Kubi's return from injury helped overcome a slower-paced third quarter to eventually set up the blowout win.

The Blue and Gold also (7-1, 3-0) continued their rampant scoring run, netting 70+ points in five straight games and sustaining their perfect start in the Pacific West Conference. The Sunbirds drop their fourth in a row, moving to 3-6, 0-4.

Kaylee Byon's game-high 18 points all came in the first half. The transfer also tied her career-best margin in rebounds with eight and added three dimes. Micaela Hanning had a productive shift in the second half and finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and three dimes. Halle Si'i was the final Lion in double figures, only missing one shot (4-5) on her way to 10 points.

The Lions outshot FPU 40%-29% from the field overall. Neither team was quite lights out from deep, but the Lions' more conservative (5-17) clip from three gave them the edge from downtown as well. Fresno Pacific converted on four of their 25 three-point tries (16%).

What Happened? The Lions, who had trailed just one minute and four seconds over their last three games, were in for a different set of circumstances as the visiting Sunbirds shot out to a 5-0 lead.

Byon got the ball rolling for the Lions with a corner trey and set her rhythm in attack mode to pile five of the first seven VU points for a 7-5 FPU scoreline. Two and a half minutes later, Byon continued her aggression from the baseline, pinning a jumper for VU's first lead of the contest, 11-9, with 5:07 left to go.

The Lions carved open the quarter's momentum with an 11-3 run as Jaryn Madsen jump-started a fastbreak with a quick steal and drained a three-pointer in transition. Byon finished the frame as she started, as a crafty jumper planted her at 11 first-quarter points and a 22-12 VU score.

Fresno Pacific went off for their hottest shooting splits of the game in the second quarter, as their 47% (7-15) field goal percentage provided the closest period in overall scoring, with the Lions squeezing by 16-15.

The Sunbirds had the first bucket of the interval before Madsen responded with a silky move to finish off glass. FPU appeared more confident in their deconstruction of the Lion press as they picked through the Lion herd for a 24-19 VU score.

With 6:58 left in the half, Kubi made her introduction, with her first appearance back from injury in nearly a month. The junior forward's presence could not be ignored as she plucked three rebounds in one minute and supplied an offensive board and assist for Madsen to build the Lion advantage. Her first bucket back in Blue and Gold colors was a gentle jumper off the window two and a half minutes later, supplied by Aryanna Hudson (31-19 VU).

Shayla O'Neil added to the strong VU finish, hitting the only Lion triple of the quarter with 1:17 left to go, and Byon capped her off with her 18-point first half with a pair of free throws.

The Lions shot a match-low 24% in the third quarter (4-17) and went empty from deep (0-5). Fresno Pacific also lacked an offensive flow, going 0-14 from the floor and cashing in their two points in the frame from the free throw line.

The offensive stutter between both teams made for a cagey quarter, as Fresno fought to keep the deficit minimal and the Lions struggled to find any flow going forward.

The eventual Vanguard solution was simple, as Kubi carried the impetus on both ends of the ball, scoring half of the Lion field goals, and utilizing her defensive prowess to pick out a steal and a pair of offensive rebounds. She netted the final four Vanguard points of the quarter, placing the Lions up by 21 (50-29 VU).

The Lions closed out the win, sinking 53% (9-18) of their shots in the fourth quarter. Hanning had her way, scoring or assisting on half of VU's total points (22) in the frame, and was relentless on the glass, downing three offensive rebounds in a row to wedge an opening for Hudson. The freshman would conclude VU's 2025 with a pair of free throws to send the Lions into the holiday season with a win.

What's Next? It's onto 2026 for the Blue and Gold, as they start the new year on the road at Biola, January 3, at 5:30 pm.