SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose police said a protective pit bull played a part in the arrest of a man accused in the attempted sexual assault and burglary of a San Jose woman.

According to police reports, the 31-year-old single mom had just returned to her home after a birthday celebration in June when she was attacked by a stranger who was already in her home.

SJ Prosecutors Credit Dog For Cracking Sexual Assault Case | SLIDESHOW: View Images

The man began strangling her as she tried to stab him with her keys, police said.

Then, the womanÂ’s pit bull, Maya, came running in from the other room.

The woman told NBC11 she encouraged her dog to attack the intruder.

Maya began to tear and rip at the intruderÂ’s arms, police said.

The man tried to fight the dog off with one hand while the other hand was around the womanÂ’s throat.

"That's when I grabbed him," said the victim, "where the sun doesn't shine."

The attacker let her go and fled, police said.

When police arrived at the scene to help, they discovered that Maya had a smudge of blood above her right eye.

Officer Iain Fry believed that the blood could be from the intruder.

He wasnÂ’t sure if the blood might provide a DNA sample.

"We never thought they would even run them," Fry said of the swabs. "I mean, there's no way -- you are talking about one drop of blood on a dog's head. A million to one."

The Santa Clara County crime lab extracted human DNA from the swab.

It was then matched through the state's database of samples taken from anyone convicted of a felony and those arrested or charged with a homicide or sex offense.

Ultimately, all information led to 37-year-old Anthony Easley, police and prosecutors said.

Officers apprehended the suspect.

Easley was previously convicted of two sexual felonies in Solano County, according to court documents.

He also was convicted of robbery in Contra Costa County.

Now, as a third striker, he faces life in prison if convicted, said Santa Clara County prosecutor Michael Fletcher.