HILO, Hawai`i—Danielle Dacosta scored a career-high 19 points, including the game winning three-point play with 18 seconds left to lift Hawaii Hilo to a 63-59 comeback victory over Biola on Saturday night at the Waiakea High School Gymnasium.
It was the Pacific West Conference opener for Hawaii Hilo (1-0) and they are now 2-1 overall. PacWest and NCAA Division II newcomer Biola is now 0-2 in league play and 1-5 overall.
The Vulcans, who hadn't played in three weeks and were without last year's leading scorer Kim Schmelz (injured in practice on Friday), were led by Dacosta's 19 points and Safia Sheikh's 18.
The Eagles outscored UH Hilo 22-9 in the second quarter to take a 38-22 lead at the break, only to see the home team battle back to tie the contest in the fourth quarter. Biola hit four treys in the second period.
The Vulcans began their comeback in the third quarter. Dacosta hit three treys in a row, including one in which she was fouled and converted a four-point play. They still trailed 53-46 heading into the final stanza.
A three-point play by Asia Smith with 7:30 to play cut the margin to 53-49, and then Dacosta made a two-point game with a bucket. A few moments later Allie Navarette tied it with a pair of free throws. The teams then traded baskets, with Dacosta giving UH Hilo their first lead with another three-pointer with 53 seconds left.
With 32 seconds remaining, Biola's DeMoria White hit two free throws to tie the count at 59-59. On UHH's possession, the Vulcans broke the press and Smith found Dacosta all alone under the basket for a lay-in. She was fouled and converted the free throw to give the Vulcans three points of space. Biola then missed two treys at the other end, with Sheikh grabbing the second rebound, and she was fouled. She hit one free throw to seal the game.
Dacosta and Sheikh both had eight rebounds, while Smith just missed a double-double with nine points and 13 boards. White led Biola with 14 points.
The game was moved to Waiakea earlier in the day because of moisture on the UH Hilo Gym floor. On Monday, the Vulcans will host Concordia (5 pm) at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
