IRVINE, Calif. — Dominican University of California women's basketball players Ashley Sorensen and Natalie Diaz have been named this week's PacWest Women's Basketball Defender of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively. The awards are based on games played Feb. 22-28.
 
Sorensen and Diaz helped Dominican clinch the No. 5 seed in the PacWest Championship with a pair of wins on the week. Sorensen averaged 7.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5.0 blocks, and 2.0 steals per game. The Santa Fe, New Mexico native had 10 rebounds and a career-high six blocks against Fresno Pacific. The junior center ranked fourth in the PacWest in blocks (1.8 bpg) on the season.

Diaz earned her second conference weekly honor, averaging 12.5 points per game. The Soquel, California native scored 13 points and tied her career-highs with nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals against Fresno Pacific.

The Penguins finished the regular season with their best record in program history during the DII era at 17-10 overall and 13-7 in PacWest play. Dominican's season will continue at the PacWest Championships at CU Arena. The fifth-seed Penguins will face the fourth-seeded Hawai'i Pacific Sharks (17-10/14-6 PacWest) on Thursday, March 3 at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are on sale here.