LA MIRADA, California – Another tough loss for the Hawai'i Hilo women's basketball team as it came up short to Biola by a single point, 50-49, Tuesday evening in Pacific West Conference play at the Chase Gymnasium.
The Vulcans began the game with a 15-0 start and held the lead through much of the contest but ended up going scoreless through the final three and a half minutes of play as the Eagles sank the final five points to escape with the one-point victory.
The score was reset to 40-40 at the 6:26-mark of the fourth quarter as Kamalu Kamakawiwoole and Kaile Cruz combined to outscore Biola, 9-5, for a four-point lead.
The Eagles' Sydney Moran made a third-chance 3-pointer and Jordan Rabe sank two free throws for the go-ahead scores as the Vulcans went 0 for 2 with two turnovers.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Kaile Cruz splashed three 3-pointers and finished 5 of 8 from the field for a season-best 13 points while collecting three steals.
- Mandi Kawaha finished with 11 points and four steals. In her penultimate game, Kawaha made four shots from the field to total 163 on the season, setting the program's new single-season record.
- Biola was held to just one field goal (7.69 percent) in the opening quarter before shooting 43.6 percent (17 of 39) the rest of the way.
- The Eagles out-scored the Vulcans, 14-5, to open the second half.
- Aysia Johnson led the Eagles with 13 points (5-8 FG) along with eight rebounds.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo fell to 10-15 overall, 7-12 PacWest while Biola moved to a 12-7 PacWest record (14-13 overall).
The Vulcans conclude their season Thursday, Feb. 23 against Point Loma Nazarene (12-7 PacWest).
The six-team PacWest Championships postseason tournament runs March 2-4 at Chaminade University of Honolulu and includes Azusa Pacific, Dominican, CUI, HPU, PLNU and Biola.
