FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific women's basketball team was tripped up in PacWest action on Saturday afternoon, falling 82-62 to Dominican at the Special Events Center.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Dominican 82, Fresno Pacific 62
Records: FPU (3-8, 1-2 PacWest), DUC (7-3, 3-0)
Location: Special Events Center | Fresno, Calif.  
All-Time Series: FPU leads 14-5
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HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Penguins controlled the opening tip, and Natalie Diaz provided the first bucket of the game.
• Eight different Sunbirds found the bottom of the net in the first half, but Dominican led 17-13 at the intermission.
• Dominican led by as many as 15 in the third quarter, but back-to-back threes from Landynn Munster and Bree Alvarez helped the Sunbirds cut the deficit to just four heading to the fourth.
• The Penguins connected on 68% of their efforts from the floor in the final ten minutes, capping the game on a 29-13 run.  
 
STATS OF THE GAME:
• Jessica Malazarte's 13 points were good enough for a team-high, marking the second consecutive game she has led the Sunbirds in scoring.
• Alvarez and Munster followed with 10 apiece, while Cassie Pisik collected a team-best 12 rebounds.
• Natalie Diaz and Sandra Ikeora each recorded a double-double for Dominican, combinining for 45 points and 37 rebounds.
• Pisik and Julia LoCastro each came away with three blocks, helping the Sunbirds post their highest total in a league game this season.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Fresno Pacific committed just 13 turnovers and forced 15, and the Sunbirds have now won the turnover battle in two of their first three league games.
• Pisik has led the team in rebounds on four occasions this season, more than any other player.  
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds are back in action next Saturday, when they visit Biola for the first time as a PacWest Conference opponent. Tipoff from La Mirada is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.