by By Brent Curry, HPU Athletics
Box Score HILO, HI (December 13, 2014) – For the second time in a week, the Hawai’i Pacific Women’s Basketball Team (7-1, 3-0) defeated UH Hilo (2-5, 1-2) in a PacWest game. After HPU winning in Honolulu by 34 last week, the Vulcans were tougher on the Big Island but HPU escaped with 71-63 win.
UH Hilo scored the first two baskets of the game, but the lead didn’t last long. Chenise Peone (Colville Tribes) hit a three-pointer at the 17:53 mark to put HPU up one. The Sharks did not trail again over the final 38 minutes of the game.
HPU’s lead fluctuated between five and nine points for most of the half, but Peone completed an old fashioned three-point play to put HPU up 12 at 40-28 with 2:10 left in the half. That lead was the biggest of the game; the home team trimmed it to ten by the break.
HPU kept Hilo at arm’s length early in the second half, the Sharks held a 50-42 advantage with 12:27 to go. However, an 8-0 run by the home team over the next three and a half minutes tied the game. Center Morganne Comstock answered by hitting a three-pointer and then a jumper to give HPU some breathing room.
Hilo cut the lead to two points at 56-54 with 6:20 left, but this time Kylie Huerta responded with long ball and then another basket on the next possession. HPU led by at least six points the rest of the way, including double-digits twice.
Peone led the team in scoring with 18; Huerta was close behind with 15 as was Veanne Navarro with 13. Peone, Huerta and Jessi Reeves all had seven rebounds but Comstock had a game-high eight.
HPU plays its last PacWest game of 2014 on Wednesday at Chaminade at 5:30 p.m.
