Box Score By Ron Smith
December 30, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Women's Basketball (5-8, 2-4 PacWest) had a solid first quarter but struggled offensively the rest of the way in a 61-41 loss to the Penguins of Dominican (10-3, 3-2) in Saturday's PacWest Conference game at Murchison Gymnasium.
 
Dominican had a fast start with back-to-back-to-back triples to start the game by Alaiyah San Juan, Jenna Duley and Keyonee Neal. Westmont responded with a pair of baskets by Madi Bogan and a second-chance jumper by Destiny Okonkwo to pull within three (9-6).
 
Okonkwo, whose return to the court is good news for the Warriors, saw 12 minutes of play. It was her first appearance in a game since the middle of November.
 
Over the next three and one-half minutes, the Warriors outscored the Penguins 11-7 to take a 17-16 lead with two minutes remaining in the opening frame. Bailey Fong supplied five of those 11 points while Sage Kramer added four and Aleena Cook two.
 
Dominican closed out the first period with four points on another three by San Juan and a free throw by Neal to take a 20-17 lead into the second quarter.
 
That is when Westmont's offense faltered. The Warriors were outscored 11-3 in the second quarter, falling behind 31-20 at halftime. Westmont fell farther behind in the third quarter, which ended with the Penguins up 53-30. Though outscoring the Penguins 11-8 in the final frame, it proved to be too little, too late.
 
Kramer came off the bench to lead the Warriors in scoring and nearly tally a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes of work. Bogan contributed nine points and five rebounds while Bailey Fong added seven points.
 
Westmont did have some success on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 39-31, which translated to an 18-9 advantage in second-chance points.
 
The Warriors will return to action on Friday, January 5 when they host the Academy of Art as part of a men's and women's doubleheader. The women are scheduled to tip off at noon with the men following at two o'clock.