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SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Coming off the program's first-ever Pacific West Conference victory, the Dominican University of California women were hoping to add to the win column. However it wasn't so as defending PacWest champ Grand Canyon University proved too much, overtaking the Lady Penguins 69-52 on Thursday night at the Conlan Center.

The Lady Penguins (4-10/1-2) held Samantha Murphy, the conference's leading scorer, to nine points – 10 points below her average. However, Kia Gibson proved unstoppable, draining 11 of her 14 field goal attempts to finish with 24 points and 6 rebounds for Grand Canyon (7-5/3-0). The 'Lopes sprinted out to a 19-4 lead in the game's first seven minutes and never looked back. Dominican trimmed the lead to nine points at 5:27 on a pair of Taki Te Koi free throws but the 'Lopes erased any doubt with a 12-4 run that sent Dominican into halftime trailing 39-22.

Dominican scored the first six points of the second half but GCU again stretched the lead to as large as 18 points. The 'Lopes took a 20-point lead with about two minutes to play before the Lady Penguins finished the game with a 5-2 run to trim the final to 69-52.

GCU pounded the ball inside for 38 points and converted 26 Lady Penguins turnovers into 28 points. The 'Lopes also took advantage of their second chance opportunities, putting the ball back for 18 points.

Raquel Gomes led Dominican with 12 points and six rebounds. Kelsey Janusch went a perfect 2-of-2 from downtown and finished her night with eight points. Alisha Flaaten, the PacWest's second leading scorer, was also held 10 points below her average and finished the night with five points for Dominican. Melissa Wise also added six rebounds in the effort.

The Lady Penguins will look for their second conference win on Monday, Jan. 18 when Dixie State College comes calling. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the Conlan Center with the men's teams to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 23's game against Academy of Art University, originally designated a home game for the Penguins, will now be a home game for AAU. The Thursday, Feb. 18 game will now be hosted by Dominican at the Conlan Center.