HONOLULU, Hawai`i—Playing their first of three nationally ranked teams in the next seven days, the Hawai`i Hilo women's basketball team hung tough but eventually gave way to No. 19 Sioux Falls, 70-60, on Tuesday night at the Shark Tank.

The Cougars pulled away late in the fourth quarter to improve to 5-0 on the season in winning the first game of the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic. The Vulcans, who will play No. 11 Minnesota State-Moorhead tomorrow at noon, fell to 1-1.

Allie Navarette led the Vulcans with 22 points and ten rebounds. Mandi Kawaha had 13 points (3-of-6 from three-point range) and the sophomore point guard also had six assists.

The Vulcans took an early lead (8-4) on a Navarette basket, but the Cougars went on a 9-0 run to take the lead. USF would remain ahead 19-15 at the end of the quarter. Kim Schmelz and Kawaha hit three-pointers in the second quarter to keep the Vulcans close, but they still trailed 33-26 at the break.

Kawaha had ten points at halftime and four assists, but the Vulcans turned the ball over 12 times. Meanwhile, Sioux Falls shot only 27 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes.

Navarette got hot in the third quarter. She scored nine points in the period, while Sara Shimizu's trey pulled UHH to within four points (44-40). The Cougars then made a run at the end of the period to head into the fourth ahead, 54-43.

But the Vulcans wouldn't fold. They went on a 11-2 run at the beginning of the final ten minutes, pulling to within two points on Chyann Gabriel's second basket of the quarter (56-54). After another Navarette score at the free throw line, UHH was still within a basket at 58-56 with 4:58 left. After a USF turnover, the Vulcans had a chance to tie but missed and the Cougars proceeded to go on a 6-0 run.

In fact, the Vulcans would get another field goal until they were in the final minute of play, and Sioux Falls converted free throws to account for the final tally of 70-60.

Navarette hit 7-of-13 shots from the field, 8-of-10 from the free throw line and she had three blocks to go with her 10 boards. Gabriel added with points and five rebounds, Malia Lee had seven boards and Shimizu had eight points.

For the Cougars, who picked to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Mariah Szymanski led with 15 points, followed closely by Jessie Geer and Kaely Hummel with 14.