SAN FRANCISCO – Dominican women's basketball put an end to its recent slow starts building a 32-point first quarter lead on the way to a commanding 116-78 victory over Academy of Art University on Friday evening at Kezar Pavilion.

Senior guard Alanna Scott led the way with 28 points and six steals, while senior forward Natalie Diaz was close behind with 23 points and five rebounds for the Penguins (16-3, 12-2 PacWest). Junior point guard Vanessa Cruz added a double-double of 11 points and 13 assists to go with four steals. Junior Marisa Mondave added 18 points and eight rebounds with sophomore guard Sydney Larocca rounding out five players in double figures with 17 points.

Dominican shot 51.9 percent from the floor and set new program records with 70.6 percent shooting from behind the arc and 116 points. The previous NCAA Division II era scoring mark was 103 set against Pacific Union in 2015.

Lily Perkins led the Urban Knights (3-15, 2-13 PacWest) with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists. 

Scott sparked the Penguins offense early hitting back-to-back 3-pointers from the right elbow to help Dominican out to an early 9-4 lead and forcing ArtU to take its first timeout. The Penguins came out of the timeout more aggressive, forcing three consecutive turnovers to push the lead to 10 with 6:13 left in the quarter. 

Perkins knocked down a shot behind the arc in an attempt to slow the momentum, but Diaz answered with one of her own on the other end. Cruz closed the 8-0 run with another 3-pointer to push the lead to 24-7 at the midway point of the first. 

The Penguins were not close to being finished as the defense held the Urban Knights to four more points in the period, while Mondave hit a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to push the lead to 43-11. Scott finished with 18 points in the quarter and Diaz added 11 points with Cruz dishing out five assists.

Edina del Rosario got in on the offensive explosion knocking down a 3-pointer early in the second as Dominican continued to pull away. Mondave pushed the lead over 40 with her second 3-pointer of the night and the Penguins seemingly could not miss from anywhere on the floor. Mondave knocked down a pair of free throws to end the half and push the lead to 52 heading to the locker rooms.

The lead grew to as many as 58 in the second half as Dominican cruised to the victory.

The Penguins will head next to Hawai'i where they take on Hawai'i Pacific on Wednesday at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center at 4:30 p.m. HST. Live stats and video will be available online.