Box Score BELMONT, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's basketball made a valiant comeback early in second half yet could never recover from a slow start in a 67-50 Pacific West Conference loss at Notre Dame de Namur University on Saturday night.

Freshman Ariana Flynn topped the Lady Penguins (3-17/2-8) with 13 points. Teammates Te Manu Whakataki "Taki" Te Koi and Kimi Nakamura both netted nine points and Kayla Valentine and freshman Sarah Nelson each had eight points. Nelson, at 6-foot-4, also had four blocked shots and Jasmine Green pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.

However, led by the league's leading rebounder Pilar Mullins, the Argonauts (5-14/3-8) outrebounded the Lady Penguins 57-32 in the contest, 30-15 in the second half, to avenge an 18-point loss at Dominican on Jan. 28.

“Rebounding is desire and NDNU wanted it more,” said Head Coach Brianna Chambers. They were more physical tonight and they were going to the basket.”

The Lady Penguins, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, threaten to catch the Argonauts early in the second half. Flynn turned a Valentine pass into a 3-point play, then a Valentine steal led to a Flynn fastbreak pass to Te Koi, the lone senior on Dominican's roster, for a lay-up with 16:42 to play. That cut NDNU's advantage to three, 32-29.

But Dominican, on its next possession, couldn't keep the momentum, missing a chance to knife the Argonauts' lead to one or perhaps tie the game with a 3-pointer. NDNU responded by scoring 10 consecutive points to create a 13-point cushion with less than 13 minutes remaining.

Ultimately, Dominican couldn't overcome a slow start. The Lady Penguins trailed 28-22 at a half after missing its first 11 shots of the game – six from 3-point range – before Stephanie Carnes recorded the team's first field goal with a driving layup with 12:37 to go in the half. By then, Dominican was behind 13-3 and the Argonauts had built their lead to 15-3.

However, Dominican battled back into the contest. Flynn came off the bench to net a pair of 3-pointers and a 3-point play off an assist by Valentine. Then the Lady Penguins scored the final six points of the first half on a drive and two free throws by Te Koi and a bucket by Nakamura with two seconds to go in the half.

The Lady Penguins return to Conlan Center on Tuesday to play the PacWest's first-place team Academy of Art University. Game time is 5:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live online at www.dominicanathletics.com/livevideo and http://radio.dominican.edu.