Box Score SAN DIEGO – Dominican women's basketball lost 75-57 Friday to the University of California, San Diego in their first game of the UCSD Thanksgiving Classic at the Rimac Arena.
 
Sandra Ikeora led the Penguins (3-2) with her fifth double-double in as many games for Dominican this season, finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Junior Natalie Diaz was the only other Penguin in double figures, tallying 13 points. Junior Vanessa Cruz added six assists and four rebounds. Mikayla Williams led the Tritons (4-1) with 16 points and 11 rebounds in 34 minutes.
 
UCSD took a 13-6 lead late in the first quarter on a three from Joleen Yang. Dominican's deficit later grew to 20-10 before Ikeora put in a jumper to cut it to eight before the end of the period.
 
The Tritons stretched their lead back to double digits early in the second quarter on a jumper from Shandiin Armao. Diaz buried a three in the final minute before the half to bring the Penguins within nine at 37-28.
 
Dominican struggled to get any closer in the third quarter, falling behind 48-36 on a layup from Williams. Another layup from Williams late in the period put UCSD ahead 60-47 but a jumper from freshman Julia Razo trimmed the Penguins' deficit back to 11 before the fourth quarter.
 
Dominican went cold in the fourth as the Tritons began to run away with it. Syndey Sharp put in a pair of free throws to give UCSD a 70-55 advantage midway through the quarter. The lead only grew from there as the Penguins were unable to put a run together.
 
Dominican held the Tritons to just 39.1 percent shooting from the floor and 28.6 percent shooting from three while turning UCSD over 18 times. Meanwhile, the Penguins shot just 33.9 percent from the field themselves and went 10-23 from the free-throw line. Dominican was also out-rebounded 58-31.
 
The Penguins take the floor again Saturday for a 1 p.m. start in their second game of the UCSD Thanksgiving Classic as they take on Cal State San Marcos. Live stats will be available online.