ATHERTON, CA – The last game of the 2025 calendar year was a thriller inside Haynes-Prim Pavilion. Menlo Women's Basketball exchanged six leads with Dominican, holding a six-point advantage with a minute and a half left in regulation before an 11-1 Penguins run earned them the 74-70 Pacific West Conference victory on Sunday afternoon.

Oaks Highlights
-Alberte Frisch delivered a season-high 28 points with seven rebounds, five steals, and two blocks
-For her first double-double of the year, Mehkia Applewhite provided 11 points and 11 rebounds along with four assists and three steals
-Zoe Carrillo collected her second straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds

Three Oaks Score In Double Figures Including Two Double-Doubles
An 8-0 by Dominican highlighted their strong opening quarter as the Penguins were still in front 31-19 with still three minutes left in the second frame. Menlo, however, proceeded to score on six consecutive possessions beginning with a layup by senior guard Jayonnah Carter then a 3-pointer from senior guard Alberte Frisch. Graduate student guard Laila Saenz hit back-to-back jumpers and, in the final 40 seconds, a determined possession finished by Frisch and senior guard Mehkia Applewhite's buzzer-beater capped a 13-2 surge to finish the half with the visitor's lead down to a single point, 33-32.

That Menlo momentum carried into the third quarter where an 8-0 push had the Oaks ahead 40-35, but after the lead changed hands four times, the Oaks ended the frame with eight of the game's next nine points including layups by three different players for a 54-48 advantage heading to the fourth.

Carter assisted sophomore forward Taylor Westbrook's consecutive baskets and Frisch nailed another triple to put Menlo up by eight at the six-minute mark yet Dominican again was within one three minutes later. Conversions at the foul line helped the Oaks go back ahead by six, but the final minute and a half of regulation belonged to the Penguins as seven free throws and two transition scores off steals secured the 74-70 win.

Up Next
As the Oaks continue their homestand into the new year, a busy first week will include matchups with Point Loma (Jan. 3), Concordia (Jan. 5), Hawaii Pacific (Jan. 8), and UH Hilo (Jan. 10).