OAKLAND, Calif.– The UH Hilo women's basketball team bounced back against Holy Names Tuesday night in Oakland, Calif. The Vulcans brought the heat with a 78-47 victory over the Hawks in the Tobin Gymnasium.
 
The Vulcans moved a slot up in the PacWest Conference standings, moving from seventh to sixth place. A crucial advancement in the long run as UHH is looking for the highest seeding possible in the league's eight-team championship. 
 
UH Hilo is now 11-8 overall and 8-7 in the PacWest, while the Hawks became 0-19 overall and 0-11 in the conference. 
 
The Hawks got the first lead of the game, but it was brief as the Vulcans took it over three and a half minutes into the first quarter and never let it up. 
 
UHH maintained a healthy 10-point lead in the final two quarters, reaching their largest lead off of a good free throw by Heaven Samayoa-Mathis that set the Hawks to a 30-point deficit behind UHH. 
 
Samayoa-Mathis was the Vulcans lead scorer, tying her career-high of 15 points. Behind her was Mandi Kawaha and Nikki Miller (12) and Bree Olson at 10. Olson was just one rebound away from a double-double, leading the team with nine. 
 
The Vulcans drastically improved beyond the arch, shooting 40.9 percent (6.9 percent above their team average). Samayoa-Mathis led the court in three's, a successful 3-for-4. Some other notable mentions from downtown are Mindy Kawaha who was 1-for-2 and Jenna Waki (1-for-1).    
 
UH Hilo scored 40 points off of Hawk turnovers. HNU committed 23 turnovers to UHH's 11. 
 
The Vulcans' bench stepped up as they were responsible for 25 of the team's points. Sierra Cavaletto made her minutes count tonight as she contributed seven points in eight combined minutes of play. 
 
The Vulcans rematch Holy Names tomorrow (Feb. 15), making up the game that was originally scheduled to be played in Hilo. Tipoff is set for 3:30pm in the Tobin Gymnasium.