LA MIRADA, Calif. – Dominican women's basketball overcame a slow start to defeat Biola 67-44 Saturday afternoon at Chase Gymnasium.

Alaiyah San Juan continued to propel the Penguins (12-9, 6-4 PacWest) with 22 points to go with four rebounds and two steals. Mikayla Amoroso added 13 points and five rebounds, while Abigail Cooper finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals. Kaylen Kamelamela was the only Eagle (5-13, 5-5 PacWest) with double-figure scoring finishing with 11 points and five rebounds. While both teams struggled from the field, Dominican hit 30% of its 3-pointers while holding Biola to 15% shooting from behind the arc while also scoring 12 more points from the free-throw line.

Jessa Thurman scored the first four points of the game, and the Eagles opened on an 8-2 run. Amoroso got the Penguins right back in it as she drove down the baseline for a layup before knocking down a 3-pointer from the right elbow to close back within one with 5:24 remaining in the quarter. The teams traded several baskets until Jazmine Barnes sparked an 12-0 run with a short pull up in the lane. San Juan then connected on a step-back jumper from the top of the arc to keep the momentum rolling and ended the quarter with a pull up jumper through contact completing the 3-point play to make it 21-12 heading into the second quarter.

The run continued in the second quarter as the Penguins moved the ball quickly with Alyssa Alvarado cashing in a 3-pointer to push the lead to double digits for the first time at 24-12 with 8:20 left in the half and forcing a Biola timeout. The Eagles scored the next four points, but San Juan scored the next five to put the Penguins in front 29-16 heading into the final three minutes of the half. Cooper added a pair from the charity strip to push the lead to 15 before Biola scored the last four point to make it 31-20 at the break.

Kamelamela and Alyssa Kubo made back-to-back 3-pointers early in the third quarter to bring the Eagles back within single digits at 33-26 with 7:44 showing on the clock. Cooper and Taylor Linzie each found some success inside to help push the lead back to double-digits and San Juan capped the 7-0 run with another 3-pointer to make it 42-28 at the halfway mark of the quarter. Dominican continued to add on to its lead as Cooper swiped a ball and used a hesitation move to free herself for a fastbreak layup to push the lead to 18 heading into the final period.

The Eagles continued to battle trimming the lead down to 15 briefly before Adia Walker took the ball and made a step-back 3-pointer from the top of the key to halt any momentum they had been building. San Juan hit a pair from the free-throw line before driving the lane for two more to push the lead over 20 at 60-38 with 6:07 left on the clock. A few minutes later Cooper sent a cross-court path to Amoroso for a 3-pointer from the left elbow to push the lead to 25 and Dominican cruised to the victory.

The Penguins will return home to take on Fresno Pacific on Thursday at the Conlan Recreation Center with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. PST.