HILO, Hawai`i—In a night of firsts for the Hawai`i Hilo Vulcans, they rolled past Academy of Art in women's basketball action at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium on Friday night, 84-51.
It was the first time this year that the Vulcans have scored over 80 points, and it was their biggest margin of victory of the season (33). Additionally,
Allie Navarette popped in a career-high 32 points and also pulled down 12 rebounds on a wildly successful night for the home team.
The makes for a two-game win streak for the Vulcans, and they have now won three of their last four games to improve to 7-12 overall and to 4-11 in the Pacific West Conference. The win also allows them to avenge a loss to Academy of Art earlier in this year in San Francisco.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Urban Knights, who fall to 3-16 on the season and to 2-14 in the PacWest.
The Vulcans never trailed in this one, running out to a 22-14 lead after 10 minutes, thanks to 58 percent shooting from the field. They held a 35-23 lead at the break after a slower second quarter.
The home team really got things going in the third quarter. They put 28 points on the board, increasing their lead to 63-38. The fourth quarter was academic as the Vulcans outscored the Urban Knights, 21-13.
Navarette, a 6-0 sophomore, missed only four shots from the field in reaching 32 points (11-of-15). She hit both of her three-point attempts and was 8-of-12 from the free throw line.
She had plenty of support.
Alyssa Movchan added 14 points, hitting 4-of-7 from behind the arch.
Mandi Kawaha had 11 points and six assists, while
Patience Taylor and
Maddie Beck had ten points each.
The Vulcans had 20 assists in the game, and outrebounded the Urban Knights, 50-34.
Lily Perkins led the Urban Knights with 25 points.
UH Hilo will wrap up this four-game homestand on Sunday night with a match-up with the second-place Dominican Penguins.