FRESNO, Calif.—A fast start for UH Hilo didn't startle red-hot host Fresno Pacific as the Sunbirds regrouped and pulled away for a 75-42 women's basketball win on Wednesday afternoon at the Special Events Center.
The Sunbirds remain right in the thick of the Pacific West Conference title race, improving to 6-1 in league play and to 10-3 on the year. The Vulcans fell to 4-6 overall and to 1-5 in PacWest play.
FPU, who defeated the Vulcans 83-64 in early December in Hilo, gets the season sweep with the victory.
The Sunbirds had four players in double figures, led by Jessica Malazarte's 15 points and seven assists. Cassie Pisik came close to a double-double with 13 points and nine boards. Fresno Pacific got themselves to the free throw line all day, converting 28 of 32 attempts (87 percent).
UH Hilo got off to a rapid start, using three baskets by
Chyann Gabriel and a three-pointer by
Alyssa Movchan to take a 11-4 lead. Even though the Sunbirds began to inch back, the Vulcans still never trailed until a Jessica Malazarte basket with 3:30 to go in the period gave the home team their first lead (15-14).
The Sunbirds would never trail again. An 8-0 run would give FPU a 21-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. They would hit their first ten free throws of the game and outscore the Vulcans 17-8 in the second quarter to lead 38-22 at the break. FPU held UHH to 26 percent first half shooting (1-for-9 from three-point range).
Fresno Pacific continued their run, outscoring the Vulcans 23-9 in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was played more evenly before the Sunbirds settled for the 75-42 final.
The Vulcans were led by
Allie Navarette, who had ten points but was also held nearly ten points below her season average. Gabriel finished with eight points and five rebounds.
Maddie Beck came off the bench to score seven points and pull down five boards. UH Hilo struggled to get the ball in the basket, shooting only 25 percent from the field, 50 percent from the free throw line (10-for-20) and 12 percent from three-point range (2-for-16).
The Vulcans will wrap up this three-game road trip with a Friday encounter at Academy of Art in San Francisco.
