PACWEST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
 
IRVINE, Calif. -- Dominican won three games last week to move back into second place in the PacWest standings, including a big 77-62 win against then-undefeated Hawai`i Pacific.
 
Dominican’s defense held Hawai`i Pacific to just 10 points in the fourth quarter to protect a lead that was created by Natalie Diaz’s 29 points. Diaz also had team-highs of nine defensive rebounds and six blocks to help hold HPU to just 62 points.
 
Hawai`i Pacific rebounded quickly with a big win in the next game in the trip through northern California. The Sharks earned a season sweep against Fresno Pacific with a 79-72 win. The Sharks are still the only team this year that has beaten the Sunbirds in PacWest play.
 
The trio of Samantha Lambrigtsen, Breanna Mackenzie and Amy Baum combined for 59 of the team’s points. Alysha Marcucci also contributed eight points in the first half to help HPU go on a 15-2 run to end the first half with a four-point lead.
 
Azusa Pacific remained undefeated in PacWest play with a win at home against Concordia to start the new year. Laura Pranger had 19 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in the 79-56 victory for the season sweep.
 
This week, the Cougars will host Point Loma on Monday. After a slow start to the season, the Sea Lions have won four in a row and are looking to hand Azusa Pacific its first loss to a PacWest team since Point Loma beat the Cougars in the semifinals of the PacWest Championships.
 
Weekly awards for the week of December 29-January 6
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Natalie Diaz, Dominican
G, Sr., 6-0 -- Soquel, Calif.
Diaz became the sixth player in PacWest history to record 1,500 career points as she continues to lead the nation in scoring. She recorded her seventh 30-point game of the season against Hawai`i Hilo. The senior then added a 29-point, 11-rebound double-double in a big win against Hawai`i Pacific to move into second place in the conference standings. Diaz finished the week with 73 points, 25 rebounds, seven blocks and a 51.0 field-goal percentage. She has scored in double figures in all 12 games this year.
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Grace Brady, Point Loma
C, So., 6-3 -- Glen Cove, N.Y.
Brady became the PacWest leader in blocks after recording 12 last week. Brady now has 40 on the season and ranks 14th in the nation in blocks per game. The sophomore led Point Loma to three wins last week. Against Holy Names, she recorded 15 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and a steal. In the next game, Brady tallied seven blocks and four rebounds to defeat NDNU. In the first game of 2019, the 6-foot-3 center helped hold Biola to just 42 points.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Amy Baum, Hawai`i Pacific
G, Fr., 5-7 -- Melbourne, Australia
Baum earned her fourth weekly award as she continues an impressive freshman campaign. The guard tallied 36 points, 16 rebounds, 15 assists and three steals on the week. Hawai`i Pacific earned road victories against Academy of Art and Fresno Pacific. The win against Fresno Pacific moved HPU back into third place in the conference standings. Baum had 18 points in that game, which is the second highest total of her career. She made 6 of 12 shots and dished out five assists.