HILO, Hawai`i—The good news for UH Hilo after their 67-56 loss to Multnomah on Saturday afternoon at the Civic Auditorium is that the contest doesn't count on their overall record, as it is officially listed as an exhibition game.

The bad news for Multnomah is that the game doesn't count on their overall record, as it is officially listed as an exhibition game.

The Lions played very well and never trailed in the game, played less than 24 hours after they lost to the Vulcans (52-42) in the game that counted on Friday night.

The Vulcans shot just 30 percent from the field and 50 percent from the free line in taking the loss. Kim Schmelz led the Vulcans with 14 points, hitting 4-of-7 treys and freshman Jenna Waki was in double figures with ten.

Alaygza Portis led the Lions with 22 points, Payton Wangler had 15 and 6-6 center Erykah Campbell added 13 points, 16 rebounds and two blocked shots.

Multnomah scored the first two baskets of the game (5-0) and never trailed in the first half. They led by as many as eight points in the opening period (18-9) as Wangler had nine points and the Vulcans hit only 2-of-10 first quarter free throws.

The Vulcans cut Multnomah's lead to four points late in the second quarter on a Schmelz basket (33-29)  but the Lions answered again with back-to-back buckets to take a 38-29 lead into the halftime locker room. One of closing points was by Wangler, who had 12 first half points.

The Lions pushed their lead to 13 points early in the third period after a Portis trey at the 6:25 mark. Two Schmelz three-balls got the Vulcans back in it and a Sara Shimizu basket just prior to the end of the quarter gave UHH hope, trailing 44-41 with ten minutes to go.

The Lions opened the fourth with a trey by Katrina Cantu, but back-to-back three's by Shimizu and Mandi Kawaha cut the Multnomah lead to 51-49 with 6:30 to go. Nonetheless another Cantu trey and a Campbell basket pushed the Vulcan deficit back up to seven, and a Wangler three made it 61-51 with 2:22 remaining, essentially sealing the game.

The Vulcans will head to Oahu next week for the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic. On Tuesday, they will play Sioux Falls (6 pm) and on Wednesday the opponent will be Minnesota State-Moorhead (2 pm). Moorhead and Sioux Falls were picked 1-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (D-II) preseason poll.