by LAIE, Hawaii – BYU-Hawaii women’s basketball fell 72-61 to Hawaii Hilo on Saturday at the Cannon Activities Center.
Jiashan Cui recorded 18 points and added two rebounds for the Seasiders (3-3, 0-1 PacWest). Celeste Claw (Navajo Nation) added 14 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Kim Schmelz led all players with 19 points for the Vulcans (1-6, 1-1 PacWest), scoring 17 in the second half.
As a team, BYU-Hawaii outrebounded Hilo 59-37, but were unable to capitalize on the extra possessions as the Vulcans held the Seasiders to 23.9 percent shooting from the field.
The Vulcans blew open a close game in the fourth quarter after Sydney Mercer led an 11-0 run with five points to give Hilo the largest lead of the game at 65-50 with 3:50 remaining. The Seasiders were unable to answer.
After Hilo took an early lead, BYU-Hawaii used an 8-1 run led by five points from Nawahine to grab an 11-4 lead with 3:48 left in the quarter. Claw ended the quarter with a 3-pointer with the Seasiders taking a 16-11 advantage into the second.
Hilo battled back on an 8-3 run to tie the game 19-19 with six minutes remaining in the half. Sydney Mercer scored three points to lead the Vulcans on a 6-0 run to take their first lead at 25-20. The Seasiders answered with a jump shot from Jiashan Cui and a 3-pointer from Claw to tie the game again. Tied again at 27, Celeste Claw made the final attempt of the half with 0:52 remaining to give BYU-Hawaii the one possession lead at the break.
Devyn Kauhi recorded all six of the Seasider points to begin the third quarter, but Hawaii Hilo was able to go on a 7-0 run to take a 40-35 lead with six minutes remaining in the third. Despite shots from Claw, Nawahine and Kauhi, the Vulcans were able to hold onto their 5-point lead to finish the third quarter 49-44.
BYU-Hawaii continued to battle in the fourth, as a free throw made by Tyvette White with 55 seconds remaining cut the lead back to single digits at 70-61, but the Seasiders could not get any closer.
BYU-Hawaii will take the court next against Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday at 5 p.m. HST in the Cannon Activities Center. Live stats and video will be available online.
