HILO, Hawai`i—Teams, fans, and coaches around the Pacific West Conference are starting to learn that regarding the Hawai`i Hilo women's basketball team, it's not over until the fat lady sings.

The Vulcans battled back from an 18-point deficit to take a lead in the third quarter, only to finally give up the ghost in the fourth, falling to Hawai`i Pacific, 56-47 on Saturday afternoon at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

It was another near-upset bid for the Vulcans against the second-place team in the conference.

It was the sixth straight win for the Sharks who improved to 12-3 overall and to 9-1 in the Pacific West Conference. The close loss snapped a three-game win streak for the Vulcans, who are now 4-9 on the year and 4-6 in league play.

Vanessa Mancera led Hawai`i Hilo with 13 points on the day, while Asia Smith added seven points and 13 rebounds. Jessi Reeves paced the Sharks with 15 points while teammate Breanna Mackenzie pulled down 15 boards.

Hawai`i Pacific's defense give the Vulcans fits from the start. UHH hit only one of its first ten shots, including 0-for-4 three-point attempts. They also were off the mark at the free throw line, missing their first six opportunities. HPU led 18-6 at the end first ten minutes.

But the Sharks cooled off as well in the second quarter, hitting just three of 16 shots and the Vulcans began edging back. UHH scored the final nine points of the second quarter, cutting the margin to 25-17 at the break.

Then came the real comeback. In the third period, the Vulcans put 22 points on the board, against a Sharks team that ranks second in the PacWest in defense (60 ppg). Lauren Hong capped a furious comeback with a jumper followed by a three-pointer to give her team its first lead of the game at 36-35 with 2:10 left in the quarter. Another Hong free throw wrapped up the scoring in the period, with the Sharks leading 40-39 heading into the final ten minutes.

But the Vulcans went cold again in the fourth quarter. They hit only one of their first eight shots, and by then the Sharks had regained their touch. Four minutes into the period, a trey by Spencer Gray put HPU up 49-41 and UHH would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

UHH shot 29 percent from the field in the game and 58 percent from the free throw line. But the Vuls also held the Sharks to nearly exactly the same number from the floor (29 %). HPU, thanks to 16 offensive rebounds, put up 65 shots to Hilo's 48.

Hawai`i Hilo will now hit the road for two weeks, next returning home on Feb. 9 against Fresno Pacific.