HONOLULU, Hawai`i--Senior Sara Shimizu had a season-high 15 points and her visiting Hawai`i Hilo Vulcans held off an upset-minded Chaminade team for a 63-58 women's basketball victory on Friday at McCabe Gymnasium.

Shimizu buried a pair of three-pointers and converted 7-of-8 free throw opportunities to help UHH improve to 5-6 on the season. The Silverswords fell to 0-11 in their closest game of the season. The two squads will close out their 2020-21 campaigns on Saturday at noon.

The Vulcans trailed only once in the game, led by no more than 10 points, but still had to hold off a motivated Chaminade team in the end with free throws.

UH Hilo made 21-of-26 free throw attempts, while Chaminade only had seven opportunities at the charity stripe (4-of-7). The Silverswords made six three-pointers and outrebounded the Vulcans 39-28.

It was the Vulcans fifth win in five tries this season against CUH, but the Silverswords kept it interesting throughout.

Shimizu opened the game with a trey, UHH led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter, and 27-21 at halftime. Chaminade battled back and took a 32-31 lead on Paige Relph's basket partway into the third quarter, but the Vulcans quickly answered on Mandi Kawaha's lay-in (33-32) and the visitors went on to lead 42-38 at the end of the period. 

The Vulcans built a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, but again Chaminade fought back. With one minute remaining, Arianna Blowe made it a three-point game (57-54) with a basket in the paint. But UHH answered with free throws down the stretch for the final margin of 63-58.

Kawaha finished with 12 points and seven assists, hitting all six of her free throw attempts. Bree Olson added 11 points and a team-best six rebounds. Chaminade had three players in double figures--Carsen Bridges had 12, Sasha Phillip added 11 and Emily Laham finished with 10.