SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The Dominican University of California women's basketball team honored its three seniors in a pregame ceremony before Monday's PacWest game versus Academy of Art. However, the night didn't go as the Pegnuins stumbled in the first half and fought back to take a late lead but fell 69-66 when a potential game-tying three-pointer didn't go down.

Senior Sarah Nelson scored a game-high 21 points with 11 rebounds, and added eight blocks as she continues to lead all levels in blocked shots with 5.36 per game.

ART U broke things open with a 12-2 run to take a 30-19 lead with 4:36 to go in the first half, though Carly Holboke's three-pointer with six seconds left in the first half trimmed the deficit to 38-30 at the half. The Penguins started the second half much stronger and used a 9-2 run to regain the lead, 41-40. Nelson's jumper with 3:56 to go gave Dominican a seven-point lead but that lead would not last as the Urban Knights outscored the Penguins 11-2 in the final two and a half minutes. Dominican held a 66-65 lead with 46 seconds left but was unable to hold it. The Penguins looked to go back ahead with eight seconds to go when senior Danielle Yamauchi dished to a wide-open Nelson for the wide-open layup. Instead, Yamauchi was whistled for an offensive foul and Dominican was forced to foul. ART U made all four of their remaining free throw attempts. Dominican had one final possession for the tie but Holboke's three-point attempt didn't fall and Melissa Boscarino grabbed the rebound but didn't have time to get another three-point attempt off.

The Penguins outshot ART U 45.5 percent (25-of-55) to 34.1 percent (28-of-82) but were outrebounded 55-38 and outshot 82-55. The Penguins reached the free throw line 21 times but made just 11 attempts.

Allyssa Weatherd, who picked up her fourth foul with 2:46 in the first half and eventually fouled out with 1:53 to go in the game, had 13 points. Holboke came off the bench for 13 points with four three-pointers and seven rebounds. Yamauchi added seven points and 10 assists. Senior Lauren Hyatt scored four points and grabbed four rebounds before she fouled out.

Jasmin Guinn was one of three Urban Knights in double digits and had 19 points. Caron Brown pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds before fouling out.

With three games to play, the loss leaves the Penguins tied for the sixth and final playoff spot with BYU Hawaii, which holds the tiebreaker after the Seasiders topped the Penguins 64-61 on Jan. 19. However, BYU-Hawaii dropped its sixth game in a row with a loss at California Baptist on Monday night. The Penguins finish the season with a three-game road trip to Hawaii at Hawai'i Pacific, Chaminade, and UH Hilo. BYU-Hawaii finishes the season at home versus UH Hilo, Holy Names, and ART U.