HONOLULU, Hawai`i--The combination wasn't good for a Hawai`i Hilo team with just seven players in uniform, playing a first place team with a double-digit winning streak.

Host Hawai`i Pacific continued to roll with a 75-36 Pacific West Conference victory over the Vulcans on Tuesday night at Moanalua High School. For the first-place Sharks, it was their 15th consecutive win and they kept their PacWest lead of a half-game over Azusa Pacific. HPU, ranked No. 22\24 in the nation, is now 19-2 on the season and 12-2 in the PacWest. The Vulcans dropped to 6-10 overall and are now 4-9 in conference play. 

UH Hilo, playing again without second-leading scorer Safia Sheikh and already suffering from a number of injuries, had just seven players make the flight from the Big Island to Oahu. Nonetheless, they held an early lead against the Sharks at 6-4 and 8-6 through the first seven minutes of the game. But Hawai`i Pacific then got in a groove, going on a 12-0 run to erase UHH's lead. They would go on to outscore the Vulcans 21-5 in the second quarter to take a 35-13 lead into the halftime intermission.

The Sharks increased their margin to 55-26 at the end of the third period. Their largest lead came in the fourth quarter at 41 points.

Fatigue and the Shark defense contributed to cool shooting for UH Hilo. The Vulcans converted just one of ten three-point attempts, a season low. They shot 29 percent from the field and were short on the boards, 44-24.

Danielle Dacosta led the Vulcans with 11 points and Allie Navarette added 10. Patience Taylor led the visitors with seven rebounds. Jessi Reeves led five HPU players in double figures with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The Vulcans now embark on a grueling five-game road trip that begins on Saturday in Utah at Dixie State.