HONOLULU, Hawai`i—Playing their second nationally ranked team in less than 24 hours, the Hawai`i Hilo Vulcans fell to taller and No. 11 ranked Minnesota State Moorhead 61-45 on Wednesday afternoon at the Shark Tank.

It was the final game for the Vulcans at the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic, played at Hawai`i Pacific. They return home to host No. 4 ranked Azusa Pacific on Monday at the Civic Auditorium (5 pm).

The Dragons, three-time defending champions of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and preseason favorite, improved to 6-0 on the season. The Vulcans, who fell to No. 19 Sioux City on Tuesday night, are now 1-2.

Allie Navarette had 12 points to lead the Vulcans, with four other Vulcans hovering right below double figures—Kim Schmelz (9), Malia Lee (8 points, 4 rebounds), Chyann Gabriel (7 points, 7 rebounds) and Mandi Kawaha (7 points, 6 boards).

UH Hilo had the first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Kawaha in the game's first possession. But MSU Moorhead would grab the lead back on Sarah Jacobson's trey a few moments later and they would never trail again.

The Dragons held a 13-10 first quarter lead and then pushed that margin to 30-17 at the break. They hit 6-of-13 three-pointers in the first half and held a 27-13 rebound advantage at the break.

MSUM hit a pair of three's early in the third quarter but the Vulcans played the Dragons close to even in the period (45-29). In the fourth Moorhead led by as many as 19 points before settling for the 16-point final margin.

For the game, the Dragons converted 9-of-21 three-point attempts on their path to remaining unbeaten on the year. With six players six-feet tall or better, they out-boarded the Vulcans, 49-27. Jacobson led her team with 15 points and NSIC Preseason Player of the Year Megan Hintz had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.