SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--Host Dominican broke open a close game with a third quarter burst to place a loss on UH Hilo in women's basketball on Saturday night at the Conlan Center, 79-57.

The Vulcans, who led for most of the first half, were outscored by the Penguins 27-6 in the third quarter as the home team gained a split in the season series, UHH won the match-up in Hilo back in January, 80-65.

UH Hilo dropped to 6-10 in the Pacific West Conference and to 7-13 overall. Dominican is now 6-11 in the PacWest and 9-14 on the year.

Kim Schmelz had a season-high 21 points to lead the Vulcans, who were opening up a four-game swing through the Bay area. Schmelz had 15 of those in the first half when the Vulcans held a 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and had a 31-26 margin at halftime.  UHH had a 11-2 run to close the first half. 

But everything changed in the third quarter. After the Vulcans took a 33-28 lead on a Allie Navarette basket, the Penguins went on a 14-0 run and would never trail again. UHH would score just six points in the quarter on 2-of-14 shooting. 

UH Hilo would put 20 points on the board in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough and it was too late. Totaled, Dominican would score 53 points in the second half to cruise to the victory.

The nation's leading scorer Jerusha Paine (25.7 ppg) had 27 points, ten rebounds and three blocked shots. Jessica Armstrong added 16 for Dominican, hitting all seven of her shots from the field.

After Schmelz's 21, Navarette had 12 points, five rebounds and four steals for UH Hilo. Mandi Kawaha had eight points and six assists. 

The Vulcans will look to bounce back on Monday night in Oakland at Holy Names.