Honolulu, HI (January 9, 2012) - Susannah Walmsley scored 20 points and Mikela Thoemmes pulled down 10 boards as the Hawai'i Pacific (7-4, 3-1) women's basketball team defeated PacWest foe Dominican University (4-9, 3-2) 61-54. The win moves HPU into fourth place in the PacWest standings.

Last season the Sea Warriors set the school record for largest margin of victory when the Penguins visited, earning a 111-43 route that sparked a seven game for the HPU women. This season the Penguins are much improved, the game was close from start to finish. 

The Sea Warriors would jump out to a 5-0 lead after Walmsley hit one of her two three-pointers four minutes into the game.  The Penguins would answer by going on a 5-1 run of their own cutting the Sea Warriors' lead to 7-6. The Sea Warriors appeared to be taking control with nine minutes left in the half, building an eight point lead after an Ieva Nagy three-pointer forced Dominican to take a time out. The Penguins would respond by going on a 5-0 run after the timeout cutting the lead back to three. HPU would again begin to creep away stretching their lead to 28-19 after Thoemmes found a cutting Nagy for an easy lay-up. The lead would remain at eight until the Penguins hit two free throws making the score 32-26 at the break.

HPU would shoot the ball well from the field in the first half hitting 13-30 shots (43.3%) including three of six from three-point range. Defensively the Sea Warriors would hold the Penguins to 11-33 (33.3%) shooting from the field including a stingy two of seven from behind the arc.

The Penguins would come out of the locker room hot, going on a 13-6 run to take a 39-38 lead. Nagy would answer for the Sea Warriors hitting a three-pointer to regain the lead with 12 minutes to play. The second half would see four ties and five lead changes as both sides struggled to pull away. HPU would take the lead for good after a Melody Ladrido steal and lay-in with five minutes remaining on the clock.  It would be another Sea Warrior steal and lay in, this time by Walmsley, with two minutes left that pushed the lead to six. A defensive stop on the next possession would seal the game for the Sea Warriors.

Walmsley's 20 points (7-8 shooting) marked the fourth time this season she has scored 20 points or more. Ladrido finished a strong week that saw her reach double-figures in all three contests. Skye Savini added 10 rebounds.

HPU finished 41.5% from the field on 22-53 shooting, including 4-11 from three-point range. Defensively the Sea Warriors held the Penguins to 21-70 (30%) from the field including 4-16 (25%) from three-point range.

The HPU women will next host cross-town rival Chaminade on Monday at Moanalua High School at 5PM.

Box Score