ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State women's basketball team opened their 2023-24 campaign with a tough loss at home to Fresno Pacific 86-69.  The Seawolves are hosting this year's CCAA/PacWest Challenge featuring FPU, Chico State and Dominican.
 
The game started off favoring SSU as the Seawolves jumped out to an early advantage.  Jayme Blackard opened the game with a layup and after four straight from the Sunbirds, Sonoma State ripped off nine in a row.  Emerson Herrmann scored a pair of layups during the run and Sienna Cherwinski scored her first career basket with a 3-pointer.  Later Alli McDonald hit a pair of free-throws to give the Seawolves their largest lead at 13-6 but that would not last very long.  FPU quickly evened the score with seven straight and then scored the final seven of the first to take a 25-19 advantage. 
 
Fresno Pacific caught fire to start the second, recording a 15-4 run and leading by as many as 17.  The Sunbirds knocked down four triples in the quarter and led by 12 at the break.  The Seawolves scored the final three points of the half but trailed 43-31. 
 
Madisyn Clark started the scoring in the third but the Sunbirds responded with 11 in a row, including three more 3-pointers to extend their lead to 21.  Later in the third the margin swelled to as many as 26 in the fourth as FPU hit eight threes in the second half. 
 
Blackard led all players in the contest with 19 points and six steals while McDonald recorded a double-double at 16 points and 13 rebounds.  Herrmann also reached double figures with 13 points on 6 for 6 shooting. 
 
The Seawolves are back in action tomorrow when they host Dominican for the final game of the CCAA/PacWest Challenge. Live video will be available on the CCAA Network and live stats through the link at www.sonomaseawolves.com.
 
Be sure to follow your Seawolves on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to get all the latest SSU athletics updates and information. Sonoma State athletics also has launched a new fan app in partnership with From Now On. Download the free app today in both the Apple and Google Play stores by searching Sonoma State Seawolves in the app store. @SonomaSeawolves | #NomaNation