Box Score SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — Dressed in pink T-shirts as warms-up to commemorate “Play 4 Kay” breast cancer awareness night, the Dominican University of California women's basketball team could never get red hot on Thursday in a 78-44 loss to Hawai'i Pacific University.

The more experienced Sea Warriors, who had four seniors and a junior in their starting lineup, handled the Lady Penguins (4-22/3-13) for the second time in 12 days, as Dominican shot only 27.6 percent (16-of-58) from the floor. This time, though, Dominican was statistically stronger defensively after HPU (15-10/9-6) beat the Lady Penguins 111-43 in Honolulu on Feb. 11.

Sophomore Kayla Valentine and Kimi Nakamura led Dominican in scoring with 10 points apiece. Jasmine Green was next, netting all six of her points in the second half for the Lady Penguins. Sophomore Natalie Bentz topped Dominican in rebounding with seven, one more than 5-foot-1 point guard Stephanie Carnes.

Freshman Sarah Nelson, who is tied for the Pacific West Conference lead in blocked shots, had three and Dominican's defense held the Sea Warriors under 40 percent shooting and 40 points in each half after HPU was over 50 last time they played.

“We did a much better job of contesting their shots,” said Head Coach Brianna Chambers.

However, Dominican's offensive output was hampered by 30 turnovers, tying its season-high set on Dec. 29 versus NCAA Division I Brown University out of the Ivy League.

“I think we just panicked,” Chambers said. “A lot of those turnovers were not forced.”

Mana Hopkins led five HPU players in double figures with 19 points. Paris Gravely, who scored 31 points in 28 minutes against Dominican on Feb. 11, was limited to 13 points on 5-of-17 shooting in 31 minutes.

“The one thing you can say we did well is we held Paris Gravely down,” Chambers said. “We did a better job of finding her.”
Yet the Sea Warriors had a 34-point lead, 70-36, with 5:50 left in the game.

The Lady Penguins, who were outscored by 34 points in the first half the last time they played the Sea Warriors, played a very competitive first 10 minutes on Thursday.  A runner by Valentine, two free throws by freshman Danielle Yamauchi, a freshman-to-freshman scoring play Ariana Flynn and Nelson and a Nakamura runner comprised a nice 8-5 run by the Lady Penguins with 10:40 remaining before intermission.

But HPU finished the first half by scoring 20 of the next 28 points to take a 39-21 advantage to the locker room and extended that to 52-26 with 15 minutes to play.

For more information on Play 4 Kay, visit www.play4kay.org.

Penguins' captain Te Manu Whakataki "Taki" Te Koi, who arrived at Dominican in 2008 from New Zealand, will play her final home game for the Lady Penguins on Saturday. February 25. “Senior Night” ceremonies will begin prior to the 5:30 p.m. tipoff against the University of Hawai'i, Hilo in the Conlan Center.