Box Score OAKLAND, Calif.--Host Holy Names held off a spirited Hawaii Hilo comeback to upset the Vulcans in women's basketball action on Tuesday night in Oakland, 53-48.

The victory was just the third of the season for the Hawks, who improved to 3-22 on the year and to 3-16 in Pacific West Conference play. The Vulcans saw their hopes for a conference tournament spot mathematically eliminated with the loss. They are now 8-10 in conference play and 8-13 overall.

The game started fair enough for the Vulcans, as they led 7-5 part way through the first quarter. But the Hawks went on a 11-0 run to close the quarter to take a 16-7 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes. They made that a 14-0 blitz early in the second quarter before an Asia Smith basket stopped the bleeding. Still, Holy Names continued to own the first half and went into the locker room ahead at the break, 30-14. 

After an ice cold first half, UH Hilo began to heat up a bit in the third quarter. Two baskets by Sydney Mercer and a three-pointer by Alexa Jacobs pulled the visitors within nine points (30-21), and the Hawks led 40-29 at the end of the third period.

In the fourth, the Vulcans began roaring back. A hoop by Jacobs, a three-pointer by Mercer and a basket by Kim Schmelz pulled UHH to within six points (43-37). UH Hilo then cut the deficit to four points twice, then three, and then two on yet another Mercer two points with 58 seconds left (47-45). But the Hawks responded with a rebound basket with 16 seconds left to seal the game.

Mercer led the Vulcans with 21 points, including nine in the fourth quarter. Smith added 13 points and 15 rebounds, her second highest total of the season for the latter. But the Vuls shot just 33 percent from the field and hit just 4-of-17 from three-point range, and they had 21 turnovers. 

The Vulcans will continue their season-ending bay area trip with a Thursday encounter at Academy of Art, start time is 5:30 PST.