Box Score BOX SCORE

HONOLULU, Hawai`i--Heavy favorite Hawai`i Pacific won their 30th consecutive game on Sunday afternoon against Hawai`i Hilo, but they had to overcome an 18-point deficit to do so.

The No. 1 regionally ranked Sharks improved to 5-0 overall and 4-0 in the Pacific West Conference with the 73-64 win, but not without a major scare. The Vulcans, now 2-4, led for nearly 26 minutes of the contest, and held a 47-31 halftime lead after scoring 28 points in the second quarter. 

Kim Schmelz led the Vulcans with 18 points, and Mandi Kawaha came close to a triple-double with ten points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Bree Olson was also in double-figures with 11 points, hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field.

Olivia West led the Sharks with 26 points, hitting 12-of-13 free throws. Ally Bates had 17 points and seven boards, and Amy Baum had a season-high 15 points with seven rebounds and three assists.

The two teams played an even first quarter, with UHH taking a 19-17 lead into the second period after a pair of free throws by Mikayla Tablit gave the visitors the one-basket lead. 

The teams were tied at 25-25 with 6:30 to go before halftime, but the Vulcans then caught fire. They scored 11 straight points to take a 36-25 margin and would push that lead to 18 points before the half was over. Back-to-back three-pointers by Sara Shimizu and Malia Lee made the count 44-28, and two free throws by Schmelz with 10 seconds left put the lead at 47-29. 

The Vulcans shot a torrid 64 percent in the second quarter, hit 3-of-5 trey attempts and was a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

But after intermission, everything changed.

The Sharks clamped down on defense, holding UHH to eight third-quarter points and nine in the fourth. Overall, HPU outscored the Vulcans 42-17 in the final 20 minutes. Once they regained the lead, the Vulcans had to foul and the Sharks made them pay by hitting 13-of-14 in the fourth period. 

The Vulcans will now take a week off before hosting Chaminade in a twinbill weekend, Feb. 20-21.