HILO, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo women's basketball team once again showed its grit with another hard-fought battle down the wire but fell late to Point Loma Nazarene, 56-51, Tuesday evening in Pacific West Conference action at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vulcans extended themselves through two early fourth-quarter ties and answered the call several times to maintain the lead and keep the Sea Lions at bay, but in the final minute-plus, Hawai'i Hilo went 0 for 3 with a key untimely turnover as PLNU finished with eight consecutive points to take the win.
The game entered the final period with the score knotted at 39 before the Vulcans took their final lead of 51-48 at the 1:25-mark.
Ellie Turk landed two free throws as Kamalu Kamakawiwoole couldn't land an inside-hook shot on the other end. Turk then drove back down the court and flicked a layup in between two defenders to take the lead.
Mandi Kawaha couldn't get a driving layup to receive a gratuitous bounce into the hoop, but the Sea Lions turned the ball right back over on a missed inbound pass. However, the Vulcans returned the favor with an overthrown pass on the inbound as PLNU sank its free throws the rest of the way.
By The Numbers
- Mandi Kawaha and Kamalu Kamakawiwoole both led the Vulcans with 11 points apiece.
- Bree Olson totaled eight points (4-of-6 shooting), six rebounds and three steals.
- PLNU held the game's largest lead with 11 points toward the end of the first quarter after stringing together a 12-0 run, but the Vulcans immediately flipped the script with a 12-0 run of their own on the way to taking their largest lead of nine points into halftime.
- Hawai'i Hilo capitalized on 23 PLNU-giveaways, converting them for an 18-3 points-off-turnovers edge.
- Ellie Turk led the Sea Lions with 17 points, going 8 of 13 at the free throw line. Haylee Saurette followed with 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 5-6 overall, 2-3 PacWest while Point Loma Nazarene moved to a 7-8 record (5-2 PacWest).
The Vulcans will be back in action Saturday, Jan. 7 for a hoops doubleheader against Concordia University Irvine (3-8 overall, 2-4 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.
The Sea Lions will travel to O'ahu to play HPU on Thursday followed by Chaminade on Saturday.
Hawai'i Hilo and PLNU will match up again Feb. 23 in San Diego, California for both teams' regular season finale.
