FRESNO, Calif. – Dominican women's basketball edged out Fresno Pacific 68-61 Wednesday afternoon in a game with nine ties and 12 lead changes at the Special Events Center. 

Alaiyah San Juan led the Penguins (10-8, 4-3 PacWest) with a game-high 24 points, while Taylor Linzie added a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds. Breanna Hurt led the Sunbirds with 12 points with Julie Ramirez chipping in 11. In a game that was statistically tied in most categories, Dominican gained separation by knocking down 19-of-21 shots from the free throw line.

The first quarter set the tone for the afternoon as San Juan connected on the first shot of the game before finding Linzie down low for a layup. Linzie then stole the ball and threw it ahead to Abigail Cooper for the fastbreak layup and Dominican took a 6-2 lead. Manu Lydia laid it off the glass for four consecutive points for FPU to tie the game and Ramirez hit a 3-pointer to take the lead for the first time. The seesaw continued with Ramirez giving the Sunbirds the 11-10 lead after one with a midrange jumper.

Aaliyah Seuell knocked down a shot behind the arc to open the scoring in the second quarter and increase the FPU lead to four The Penguins quickly flipped the lead with a 7-0 run as San Juan capped the run finishing through contact on a driving layup and hitting a free throw for the 17-14 lead with 7:30 left in the half. The pattern continued as one team would gain a small lead no greater than one possession before the other would answer to tie or retake the lead. Hurt beat the buzzer on a short jumper for the Sunbirds to send the game into the locker room tied 28-28.

Dominican became the first team to hold a lead larger than two possessions in the third quarter as Isobel Crosswhite gathered in an offensive board and laid the ball in to cap an 8-point run that made it 45-37 in favor of the Penguins with 1:29 left in the quarter. Moments later Seuell knocked down a 3-pointer to bring the game back within a single possession where it remained heading to the fourth.

Alyssa Alvarado knocked down a 3-pointer to start the second half before San Juan stole the ball and eventually made her way inside for a layup to push the lead to 52-44 with 8:42 left in the game. San Juan cut inside for back-to-back layups moments later with the second coming with a foul and she cashed in the 3-point play to give Dominican the only double-digit lead of the game at 58-48 with six minutes remaining. The Sunbirds were unable to get any closer than five points down the stretch as the Penguins had an answer for each of their attempted runs to close the game.

Dominican will return home to host Jessup on Saturday at 1 p.m. PST at the Conlan Center in a rematch of a tight thriller shortly before the holiday break.