ST. GEORGE, Utah--Seniors Sydney Mercer and Alexa Jacobs each played a huge part in yet another comeback win for the Hawai`i Hilo women's basketball team, this time on the road at Dixie State, 60-57 on Saturday.

Mercer had 20 points and led a third quarter surge, while Jacobs added 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists, including a pair of key buckets late in the game for the Vulcans, who improved to 5-6 in the Pacific West Conference and to 5-9 overall. UHH has now won four of its last five contests, coming from behind in all four victories.

The Trailblazers fell to 2-11 in conference play and 2-17 on the year, and are still looking for their first win at Burns Arena.

Trailing by ten points at the half (37-27) and by 12 early in the third quarter, the valiant Vulcans scrambled back. They outscored their hosts 19-10 in the fourth quarter and held Dixie State to just 20 second-half points.

Both teams were on fire from the start, combining for eight three-pointers in the first quarter as the Trailblazers took a 20-17 lead. UHH then went cold in the second period, allowing DSU to go on a 10-0 run and claim a 37-27 halftime margin. 

Dixie pushed that separation to 12 points at the beginning of the third quarter as the Vulcans remained icy, going the first four minutes without a field goal. That's when Mercer stepped up. She hit back-to-back treys and they scored in the paint to pull her team to within three points (39-36).

The Vuls kept surging forward and finally took their first lead since the first quarter when Mercer banked one home with 5:39 left on the clock (50-49). Three lead changes followed before a Shelby Kassuba basket put DSU up by five points with 2:40 remaining (57-52). It was then Jacobs' turn. A lay-up and a jumper that was converted into a three-point play tied the game (57-57). 

With 27 seconds left, Asia Smith hit what would turn out to be the game winner, kissing one off the glass (59-57). After a Trailblazer turnover, Kim Schmelz added insurance with a free throw (60-57) and Mercer sealed it with a steal as time expired.

Dixie State led for most of the contest, and UH Hilo never had a lead larger than the three points at the end. The Vulcans hit seven treys in the contest. Mercer hit eight of 11 shots from the field on her way to 20 points.

Kassuba led DSU with 13 points.

The Vulcans won't have too much time to enjoy this win, as they travel to Riverside, Calif. on Monday to take on PacWest leader California Baptist.