Another slow start handed the University of Hawaii at Hilo an 81-63 loss to Dixie State College in the first round of the Pacific West Conference championship in Azusa, Calif.
 
The Vulcans struggled through nine scoreless first-half minutes to enter the break trailing 37-19. In the first 20 minutes, the Vulcans hit 9 of 33 shots from the field and only 1 of 12 from 3-point range.
 
“We've had stretches like that in the last month,” UH Hilo Head Coach David Kaneshiro said. “We've had halves like that in the last few weeks where we move the ball well and the shots haven't fallen.”
 
The second half was another game as the Vulcans went blow-for-blow with the much taller Red Storm with both teams scoring 44 points.
 
“Today was the day we really need the ball to fall,” Jamiea McDuffie said. “The looks that we got were great but if it didn't fall, it didn't fall.
 
“We kept our heads up and continue to play.”
 
In the half, the Vulcans hit 14 of 32 shots and 2 of 6 from 3-point range.
 
McDuffie led the Vulcans with 17 points while Jazzmyn Davis added 14 points and hauled in nine rebounds.

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