Fresno, CALIF. -- Dominican University of California (7-7, 5-2) added one victory to the 2022 win column as it sailed past Fresno Pacific (4-8, 0-6) 70-62 in its final game of the calendar year. 

Freshman Keyonee Neal continued to impress as she tallied a career-high 24 points to lead her team to victory, also adding six rebounds, two steals and an assists. Redshirt senior Brittney Cedeno contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals on the afternoon, seeing success on a game-high 13 free throws. The Penguins shot 60% from deep as a team, also forcing 16 turnovers. 

Neal notched Dominican's first four points of the game as she helped her team keep pace with a streaking Sunbirds team that got off to a hot start early, leading Dominican 6-4 in the early going. Dominican's first lead came near the five-minute mark when Neal drained her first 3-pointer of the afternoon. Junior Olga Faasolo netted her first bucket with just shy of minute remaining in the frame, then adding a pair of free throws moments later as her baskets helped the Penguins take an 18-13 lead into the second stanza. 

Dominican squandered its lead minutes into the second quarter after consecutive Breanna Hurt baskets gave FPU a one-point, 21-20 advantage. The Sunbirds lead grew to as many as six with 3:11 remaining in the half, but Cedeno free throws and a Neal layup brought Dominican back within one possession. The one-possession lead held until 30 seconds were left on the clock with Cedeno again at the free throw line with the story ending in a very obvious fashion as both free throws successfully ties the game at 31-31 with the teams breaking to their respective locker rooms. 

The Penguins jumped soared to the sounds of a 10-0 run to start the second half as Neal and junior Jenna Duley traded baskets to start the third frame. A Sunbirds timeout lead to consecutive field goals for the home side, its first consecutive baskets in nine minutes and 48 seconds of playing time dating back to the 5:28 mark of the second quarter. Strong play on both sides of the court helped Dominican hold its lead going as it took an eight-point, 55-47 lead into the final frame. 

The two sides traded 3-pointers to start the final frame as sophomore Alex Salise matched an early long ball from FPU's Joleen Corona on the first possession of the quarter. The Sunbirds were able to get as close as four points to the Penguins but seven successful Cedeno shots from the stripe over the final 3:30 of play helped Dominican stay at length before eventually earning its final win of the 2022 calendar year by a score of 70-62.