HONOLULU, Hawai'i– The UH Hilo women's basketball team showed their grit tonight in a 68-67 thriller over Hawai'i Pacific in the Shark Tank. 

"We didn't shoot the ball well, but I was proud of how our team stuck together and kept perserving," said head coach David Kaneshiro. "Thankful that we were able to get just enough stops and scores down the stretch to get the win."
 
UHH improves 8-7 overall and 6-6 in the PacWest Conference, while HPU sinks 4-14 and 1-10 in the PacWest. 
 
After battling throughout the first three quarters, the Vulcans were down by four points with only a minute remaining in regulation. A technical foul committed by Hawai'i Pacific brought the game within a trey for UHH. As the clock ran out, the game was tied twice. HPU's Avery Cargill gave her team the one-point lead with 18 seconds remaining. 
 
The Vulcans responded instantly. Mandi Kawaha made her way down the court, found Nikki Miller in the post, and the rest was history as Miller turned around and sunk in a good layup that gave UHH the 68-67 victory. 
 
Vulcan Leaders…POINTS: Mandi Kawaha 24, Heaven Samayoa-Mathis 12, Nikki Miller 10; ASSISTS: Mandi Kawaha 5, Samayoa-Mathis 3, Jenna Waki 2; REBOUNDS: Miller 9, Sara Shimizu & Samoa-Mathis 6, Noelle Sua-Godinet 5; BLOCKS: Bree Olson, Shimizu, Sua-Godinet 1; STEALS: Shimizu 4, Waki 3, Mandi Kawaha, Miller, Olson 1.
 
Bench Points...The Vulcan bench stepped up when they were needed contributing 19 points. Shimizu led the effort with 10 points. 
 
Back-and-Forth…The lead changed five times and the score was tied four times tonight in the Shark Tank. 
 
Surviving the Shark Tank…Hawai'i Pacific outshot UH Hilo by a 22 percent margin, but the Vulcans made up for it on defense. The Vulcans scored 20 points on turnovers, only letting up nine of their own turnovers to HPU's 17. The Vulcans also had 10 steals to the Sharks' 5 and three blocks to HPU's one.     

Up Next..The Vulcans play next tomorrow (Feb. 9) against Chaminade at 5:30pm HST in the McCabe Gymnasium.