Box Score (photo by Rick Ogata)

BOX SCORE

HILO, Hawai`i--A third quarter blitz brought UH Hilo back from a 14-point deficit and an eventual 73-58 win over visiting Chaminade in women's basketball on Saturday afternoon at Vulcan Gymnasium.

The Vulcans improved to 3-4 on the year and in the Pacific West Conference with the victory. The Silverswords fell to 0-7 on the season.

Mandi Kawaha led four Vulcans in double figures with 18 points, and for the second time this season she flirted with a triple-double with seven rebounds and seven assists. Kim Schmelz added 14 points and had a double-double with ten boards. Malia Lee had 11 points and Makayla Tablit had 10. 

Jordyn Zader had a career-high 20 points to lead Chaminade, converting 13-of-15 free throw attempts.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter, with Chaminade taking a 11-8 lead to the bench at the short break. But the Silverswords caught fire in the second quarter. Carsen Bridges scored the 'Swords first eight points of the quarter as the visitors eventually built a 14-point lead. A pair of free throws by Zader put the count at 26-12 before UHH began to inch back. They would close the gap to 33-22 at the break, but UHH was 0-for-8 from three-point range in the first half and shot just 26 percent overall.

The script flipped in the third quarter. The Vulcans went on a 15-2 run and took their first lead since early in the game on Tablit's three-pointer with 3:25 left in the period (38-36). The would outscore the Silverswords 23-11 in the period to take a 45-42 lead into the fourth quarter. 

The Vulcans went on a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter and would begin to pull away. They would outscore the 'Swords 28-16 in the final ten minutes of play.

UH HIlo had just five turnovers in the game  They held a slight rebound edge at 40-38.

The same two teams will square off again on Sunday, at noon.

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