BOX SCORE

SEASIDE, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's basketball team saw the lead slip to double digits in the second half after trailing by just three points at halftime, falling 71-57 to Cal State Monterey Bay on Monday night at the Kelp Bed.

The Lady Penguins (3-7) fell behind early, trailing 14-4 just 14:08 into play before a Kelsey Janusch three-pointer trimmed the Otter lead to five. Cal State Monterey Bay (6-1) extended the lead to 13 at the six-minute mark. Dominican used a 9-4 run to close out the first half – pulling as close as two points on an Emily Dunn layup – and send the Lady Penguins into the locker room trailing 33-29.

An Alisha Flaaten three-pointer pulled the Lady Penguins to within a point to begin the second half but Monterey Bay's leading scorer, Julie Heurung, answered with a jump shot that sparked a 9-3 Otter run. Another Flaaten three pulled Dominican back within four points but a 7-0 run extended the Otter lead to 51-40 with 10:22 to play. A Holly Holcomb layup gave Cal State Monterey Bay its largest lead of the night at 16 with 1:58 to go. Flaaten sank another three-pointer and Holcomb made a free throw but neither team scored in the game's final minute.

Flaaten finished her night with 13 points on three three-pointers and four free throws. Tammy Brawner added 12 points in the loss. Kimi Nakamura scored eight points, all the in first half. Michaelia Baskerville also added eight points in the loss. Brawner and Nakamura each snatched four rebounds.

Heurung led the Otters with 12 points. Veronica Williams added 12 points and eight rebounds for Cal State Monterey Bay. Jazz Herrera led all players with nine rebounds.

The Dominican women begin 2010 with a trip to Washington to face Central Washington on Saturday, Jan. 2. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.