Box Score SAN FRANCISCO – Dominican women's basketball lost a late lead Wednesday night, falling to Academy of Art 83-78 at Kezar Pavillion.
Natalie Diaz led the Penguins (10-5, 4-3 PacWest) , finishing with a double-double of 34 points and 13 rebounds. Helena Orts led the Urban Knights (3-14, 2-7 PacWest) with 25 points and 11 rebounds.
Dominican fell behind early but Diaz and
Alanna Scott helped keep them in it. Diaz converted on a 3-point play and then a layup before Scott connected on a triple to bring the Penguins within three at 17-14. A couple of minutes later, sophomore
Marisa Mondave tied the game 20-20 with a 3-pointer of her own. The Urban Knights held a 28-26 lead after the first quarter, despite the Penguins shooting 66.7 percent from the field including a perfect 5-5 from Scott.
An 11-0 run in the second quarter for Dominican, capped by a 3-pointer from freshman
Julia Razo halfway through the period, allowed the Penguins to take a 39-30 lead. Dominican was able to maintain the advantage, leading 46-36 going into halftime.
The Penguins extended their lead early on in the second half, taking a 54-38 advantage on a jumper from Diaz in the first few minutes of the third quarter. The lead stretched to 16 on another jumper from Diaz a few minutes later, putting Dominican ahead 60-44.
Academy of Art went on a 12-0 run to begin the fourth quarter, quickly turning a comfortable Penguins' lead into a deficit as the Urban Knights moved ahead 65-64. Scott hit a clutch 3-pointer a few minutes later, putting Dominican back in front 72-71. The two teams seesawed back and forth from there with the lead changing hands five times in less than 90 seconds. A layup from Pre'Franz Dominick gave the Urban Knights a 77-76 lead with just over a minute remaining in the game. The Penguins tried to get back in it but Academy of Art shot the ball well from the free throw line down the stretch to seal the game.
Dominican shot 43.8 percent from the field and went 5-12 on 3-point attempts but turned it over 18 times. The Urban Knights finished with a 62-42 advantage on points in the paint.
The Penguins take the floor again Saturday at home against Chaminade on Make A Wish Night for a 2 p.m. tip. Live stats and video will be available online.
