PACWEST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK

IRVINE, Calif. -- Hawai`i Pacific passed the biggest test on its schedule with flying colors, winning all four games on its trip to southern California as the Sharks boosted their winning streak to 11 games.
 
Hawai`i Pacific won four games in eight days by a combined margin of 44 points. The most important win was at No. 18 Azusa Pacific, where the Sharks led by as much as 17 points and never trailed after the opening minutes of the game.
 
Samantha Lambrigtsen finished the week with an average of 17.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals for the Sharks. Jessi Reeves added 16.0 points per game with 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.7 assists. The Sharks 11-game winning streak is now the longest active streak in the West Region. Azusa Pacific and Hawai`i Pacific will meet again on February 22 in Honolulu.
 
Dominican went another week without the PacWest Preseason Player of the Year Sandra Ikeora, but the Penguins still came away with two wins to move back into third place in the standings.
 
Concordia stayed just a half-game behind Dominican in the standings with an 82-76 win at home against California Baptist. The Eagles trailed by as much as 14 in the first half, but foul trouble for the Lancers opened the door for a comeback. Montana Walters and Kennedy Fulcher each tallied 21 points, making a combined 17 of 22 field-goal attempts. Walters knocked down 5 of 6 shots from beyond the arc and had four assists in the second half to lead the comeback.
 
Azusa Pacific bounced back from just its third loss of the season with a win at Point Loma to earn the season sweep. Point Loma is now tied for ninth place in the conference.
 
The PacWest race to the conference tournament is picking up with just five weeks left in the season and only three wins separating third place from 12th place. The top six teams in the conference standings will advance to the tournament, which will be hosted in Riverside, Calif.
 
Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur tip off the week on Wednesday. Both teams are currently in position to qualify for the tournament, and Dominican won the first meeting in December.
 
On Friday, Fresno Pacific will travel to Dixie State. Despite the Sunbirds’ overtime loss to NDNU last week, they are still in position to qualify for the tournament for the first time in program history, holding a half-game lead over Cal Baptist for sixth place. Dixie State has been tough to beat at home this year with a 6-4 record, including a win over Azusa Pacific.
 
On Saturday, Point Loma will play at Hawai`i Hilo with both bubble teams currently outside the playoff picture. Dominican will host Academy of Art, and Notre Dame de Namur will host Biola. The Argonauts are in fifth place in the standings after their overtime win at Fresno Pacific on Saturday.

Weekly Awards for the week of Jan. 15-21

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Samantha Lambrigtsen, Hawai`i Pacific
G, Jr., 5-6 -- Oregon, Ill.
Lambrigtsen led Hawai`i Pacific in scoring as the Sharks collected three wins in southern California to move into first place in the conference standings. The junior combined for 53 points in the three wins in just 67 minutes of play. Lambrigtsen made 18 of 38 field-goal attempts and added 17 rebounds and five steals. Lambrigtsen scored a season-high 21 points against Biola and tallied 17 points in the Sharks’ win over No. 18 Azusa Pacific.
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Pre’Franz Dominick, Academy of Art
F, Sr., 5-11 -- Deridder, La.
Dominick earned her second consecutive Defender of the Week recognition after helping the Urban Knights win three of their last four games. For the second week in a row, Dominick set the PacWest season-high in rebounds as she collected 23 boards in a win against Chaminade. As a team, Academy of Art outrebounded Chaminade, 56-32. The senior forward added three steals and two blocks to an 18-point effort. On Saturday, the Urban Knights’ three-game winning streak was snapped, but Dominick had 18 points, 18 rebounds, and three blocks.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Julia Razo, Dominican
F, Fr., 6-0 -- Woodland, Calif.
Dominican picked up their second and third consecutive wins last week against Dixie State and Hawai`i Hilo to move into third place in the PacWest standings. Razo played a key part by scoring in double figures in both games and earned her sixth and seventh career starts. During the three-game winning streak, Razo went 21 for 41 from the field with five assists, four steals and a block. Against Dixie State, Razo scored a career-high 29 points, knocking down 11 of 21 field-goal attempts, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc. It was just the ninth time this year that a PacWest player has made six 3-point field goals in a single game.