IRVINE, CA --- In a game that featured 14 lead changes, it was Concordia that came up with the last advantage, as the Eagles posted a 60-53 win over Fresno Pacific in Golden State Athletic Conference play Saturday night at CU Arena.

The win improves Concordia to 10-7, including 3-6 in GSAC play. Despite the six conference losses, the Eagles are 3-1 at home against GSAC foes.

Fresno Pacific drops to 5-14, 2-7 GSAC.

The Eagles took the lead for good thanks to a 6-0 run that  featured a pair of field goals from senior forward Lauren Sahli, to make the score 42-37 with 8:30 left in the game.

Although they shot just 50 percent (18-for-36) from the charity stripe for the game, Concordia held the lead, which it built up to 11 points, at 52-41 with 4:13 remaining.

Junior guard Nicole Fu led the charge with 19 points for Concordia, who also picked up a double-double from Sahli on a 14-point,  10-rebound performance. Junior guard Tyler Howard added 11 points in 17 minutes off the bench.

"Lauren Sahli had one of the best games of her career, which was crucial tonight," head coach Jenny Hansen said. "I told her last night to go get a double-double today, and she did it. Fresno was a challenge for us on the inside, with (Jessica) Torrecillas going to work. We stepped it up and got tough when we needed to."

The Sunbirds were led by 19 points from Jessica Torrecillas, as Jessica Mazza tallied 14 points and dealt out six assists on the night.

The Eagles shot just 38 percent (18-for-48) from the field, but it was slightly better than the Sunbirds' 37 percent (21-for-57) clip.

Fresno Pacific carried a 22-21 advantage into the break, as the two teams swapped leads seven times throughout the opening 20 minutes.

The Sunbirds took the lead at 18-17 on a jumper by Torrecillas with 6:42 remaining and held the advantage until halftime. Torrecillas and Mazza scored eight points apiece heading into the locker room.

Fu netted a pair of treys en route to seven first-half points, the highest total for CUI in the first period.

"I've been telling them all year that they just have to find ways to win," Hansen said. "'If your shot's not falling, like the 28% we shot in the first, you have to find other ways to get it done.' We did in the second half, when we found a stretch to get some breathing room and hold on for the win.

"GSAC wins are a precious thing, whether we have to do it defensively, on the drive, jump shooting, or at the line, we'll take it any way we can get it."

Overall, Concordia out-rebounded the Sunbirds by a 45-33 tally, and held a slight advantage in the turnover department, giving the ball away 14  times as opposed to 16 Fresno Pacific giveaways.

Concordia next plays this coming Tuesday (Jan. 26) with a GSAC matchup at San Diego Christian, starting at 5:30 p.m. in El Cajon.

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