HILO, Hawai'i – Mandi Kawaha sank two clutch free throws to tie the game with four seconds left, but a foul on a last-second shot attempt gave APU the go-ahead score as the Hawai'i Hilo women's basketball team fell just short to No. 25 Azusa Pacific, 64-62, Monday evening in Pacific West Conference action at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

The Vulcans found themselves down four points with 21.8 seconds left following two made-free throws from APU. Kawaha raced down the court for a turnaround jumper and Keirstyn Agonias cleaned up the missed shot for a tip-in layup to cut into the margin.

Following a handful of fouls and a pair of missed free throws by the Cougars, Kawaha took the inbounded-pass with three seconds left and drew a foul to head to the line to sink the game-tying free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining as the game was seemingly headed for overtime.

APU's Paige Uyehara last-second heave fell short, but a shooting foul was called to give her three chances at the game-winner. After missing the first attempt, the PacWest Preseason Player of the Year hit on the final two to take the win for the Cougars.

Azusa Pacific remains tied atop the standings with Concordia University Irvine. The Vulcans sit at No. 8 behind Academy of Art as the top six will qualify for the postseason PacWest Conference Championships.

It was a slow start for the Vulcans, opening the game missing the first seven shot attempts as APU took a 21-8 lead through the early part of the second quarter. But the Cougars cooled off as Hawai'i Hilo warmed up to out score Azusa Pacific, 15-3, to claw back into the game with a final Kaile Cruz 3-pointer to reset the score at 29-29 heading into halftime.

The Vulcans continued strong in the second half with a 14-3 run but the Cougars flipped it right back with a 15-2 run to make it a two-point score heading into the final period.

Hawai'i Hilo went cold midway through the quarter, shooting 0 of 5, as APU scored eight consecutive points to extend itself out front. A 3-pointer from Bree Olson at the 47-second mark helped cut the deficit back to just two points heading into the final sequences of play.

By The Numbers

• Kawaha led the Vulcans with 26 points and fell one rebound shy of a third consecutive double-double. She also had four assists to reach the 400-mark in her career. Kawaha had previously become the program's all-time assists leader earlier this season.
• Molly Whitmore led the scoring for the Cougars, putting up 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Paige Uyehara (15) and Amayah Kirkman (13) also finished with double-digit scoring figures for APU.
• Hawai'i Hilo went 13 of 16 at the free throw line while APU shot 15 of 21.

What's Next

Hawai'i Hilo moved to 6-9 overall, 3-6 PacWest while Azusa Pacific moved to a 14-3 record (9-1 PacWest).

The Vulcans will be back in action Wednesday, Jan. 18 for the last hoops doubleheader of the season-opening home stand, taking on Biola (9-9 overall, 7-3 PacWest). The women will tip off at 5 p.m. followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Hawai'i Hilo will return for two final home games on Feb. 8 and Feb. 11.

The Cougars will travel to O'ahu to take on HPU and Chaminade through the end of this week.

Hawai'i Hilo and Azusa Pacific will match up again one month from now on Feb. 16 in Azusa, California.