HILO, Hawai'i – At times, the Vulcans shot hot and kept the score close, but during other spans, the Cougars were just too consistent as the Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball team were bested by 22nd-ranked Azusa Pacific, 69-57, Saturday evening in Pacific West Conference play at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Despite keeping the score at just a four-point differential heading into the final 10 minutes of play, an 8-0 run starting with a minute and a half left in the third quarter fueled APU. Both teams traded blows in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars managed to inch away to a double-digit lead with under five minutes remaining.
Hawai'i Hilo shot 50 percent from the field in each of the opening quarters of each half but then went on to finish 21.4 percent and 33.3 percent, respectively, through the third and fourth periods.
The Vulcans kept PacWest Conference Preseason Player of the Year pick Paige Uyehara in check, forcing the APU senior to earn all six of her points from the charity stripe after going 0 of 5 from the field. Hawai'i Hilo also kept Azusa Pacific to its second-lowest three-point shooting output of the season with just three baskets made on the evening.
Keirstyn Agonias led the Vulcans with 15 points while Noelle Su'a-Godinet reached double digits in both scoring and rebounds for the first time in her career to post a double-double.
The two teams previously met Jan. 4 in California with APU coming away with the win, 68-61.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 6-11 overall record (3-8 PacWest) while Azusa Pacific moved to 12-0 in conference play (18-3 overall).
The Vulcans will make a quick trip back to O'ahu this Tuesday, Jan. 30 to take on Chaminade before returning for four more contests at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium — hosting Chaminade (Feb. 3), Biola (Feb. 8), Concordia University Irvine (Feb. 10) and HPU (March 2).
PATH TO PACWEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
The top six teams at the end of the regular season will make it to San Diego for the 2023-24 PacWest Conference Tournament set for March 7-9 at Point Loma's Golden Gymnasium.
Hawai'i Hilo continues to fight for a spot, sitting a three-way tie for No. 8 in the standings. Azusa Pacific is at the top with an unbeaten record.
