SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Fresno Pacific struggled offensively and fell to host Dominican, 80-55, in PacWest action Saturday at the Conlan Center.  The Sunbirds were held to 38% shooting and a season-low in points and assists (3) in the loss.
 
FPU (6-13,2-10 PacWest) couldn't slow the reigning PacWest Player of the Week Dominique Taplin, who poured in 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and pulled down five rebounds for DUC (9-12,6-7 PacWest). The senior guard entered the night ranked seventh in the PacWest in scoring and rebounding.
 
The Penguins never trailed in the game and led 30-21 at the intermission. FPU was down by four after a Daveon Gibson jumper with 4:07 left in the opening half, but wouldn't come any closer. DUC used a 27-7 run in the second half to earn its largest lead of the night of 27 points with 2:14 to go in regulation.
 
Madison Higgins led FPU with 15 points. Gabe Solarin added 13 and Bobby Barnes was the final Sunbird in double figures with 11. The Sunbirds shot 16% from three (3-of-18).
 
Dominican, who ranks second in the PacWest in rebounding margin, won the battle of the boards 42-22. FPU's Trevon Clayton, the conference leader in boards, was limited to five on the night. The Penguins outscored FPU 50-18 in the paint and 29-4 in bench points.
 
DUC finished 54% from the field. The decision marked the most lopsided victory of the season for the Penguins. Josh Ramirez scored 17 points to go along with Taplin's game-high.
 
The Sunbirds will look to avenge tonight's loss against the Penguins next time out, as they host Dominican on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.