STOCKTON, Calif. – For the first time since 2022, the Pacific women's basketball program welcomes a ranked non-conference opponent to the Alex G. Spanos Center when the team faces No. 22 Washington on Sunday at 1 p.m. But before that game, Pacific will meet Simpson on Friday at 11 a.m. to celebrate Education Day.

On Education Day, 21 local schools will help cheer on Pacific (4-5) as the team faces Simpson (5-4), out of the NAIA ranks, for the first time in program history. Hailing from the Cal Pac conference, the last time Pacific saw a team from this conference was during the 2023-24 season when Cal Maritime was defeated 108-45, also the last time Pacific eclipsed the century mark.

Sophomore Winner Bartholomew continues to pace the team in scoring, averaging 13 points per game, and had the previous game against Nevada gone final would have jumped to 13.4 points per game after falling just shy of her first career double-double with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Junior Nyah Lowery had achieved her first double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds, both career highs for the junior, and against group of five and power four competition has been effective on the boards officially averaging 5.3 boards per game (6.5 per game adding in the Nevada game).

In the history of Pacific women's basketball, the program last notched a home win over a ranked opponent on January 18, 2003 against UC Santa Barbara. For the Tigers to get a win over Washington (9-1) this time, it will require strong guard play both from the starters and the bench.

Sophomore Daria Nestorov had added five assists to her season line prior to the cancellation against Nevada alongside 12 points and two three-pointers. Due to the officially long layoff between games, Nestorov has fallen out of the top-100 nationally in total assists, but her standing in assists per game increased to rank 70th in the country (4.6 assists per game).

Freshman Liv Yergensen had returned from a one game absence and given the team valuable minutes, and production, tallying eight points, a rebound, two assists and two blocks in 18 minutes played.

The Tigers' guard play has elevated the team's scoring throughout the last four official games, cutting down the turnovers per game to 10.3 per game, which has allowed Pacific's scoring average to jump from 54.8 points per game to 70.5 per game over the last four.

In the series history, Pacific and Washington have only matched up once in Stockton where the Tigers claimed a 75-62 win in 1983.

Sunday's contest is also Pacific's Holiday Bash. Both the Simpson and Washington games will be streamed on ESPN+.

Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474.  Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.

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