BOX SCORE

PHOENIX, AZ — The Dominican University of California women's basketball was minutes away from upsetting Grand Canyon University on Saturday afternoon but a late GCU run led to a 63-56 Lady Penguin loss in Pacific West Conference play.

The Antelopes (18-7/12-2) jumped out to the early 7-0 lead but the Lady Penguins (5-20/2-12) chipped away, scoring eight straight points to take the 14-13 lead on a Kimi Nakamura three-pointer with 7:34 to go. The lead exchanged hands two more times before GCU stretched the lead to 27-23 at halftime.

Dominican came out firing the in the second half and tied the game at the 35-35 at the 15-minute mark on a Raquel Gomes basket. The Lady Penguins built the lead to as large as seven but GCU finished the game on a 14-point run that propelled the second-place 'Lopes to victory.

As a team, the Lady Penguins shot 22-of-57 (.386) compared to 23-of-53 (.434) by the 'Lopes. Dominican was outrebounded 41 to 24 but made 15 turnovers, three less than GCU, and collected 12 steals to GCU's eight.

Alisha Flaaten led Dominican with 14 points in the loss. Michaelia Baskerville added 13 points in the effort. Kiley Berlinski and Nakamura each scored eight points. Melissa Wise pulled down six rebounds for Dominican.

Samantha Murphy, second in the PacWest in scoring, led all players with 16 points. Kia Gibson and Stacy Haddow each chipped in 10 points for the 'Lopes.

Dominican's 2009-2010 basketball schedule, its inaugural season in NCAA Division II, will conclude with home games on Tuesday night, March 2 against BYU-Hawaii, and Saturday night, March 6 against Chaminade University. On March 2, Dr. Ed Kujawa, Dean of the School of Education and Counseling Psychology, and Dr. Marty Nelson, Dean of the School of Health and Natural Sciences, will serve as honorary coaches while the 19-piece Dominican Jazz Band, directed by Mark Culbertson, will perform.