HONOLULU, HI (February 14, 2015) – It was a busy Saturday for HPU Athletics as tennis is in full swing and basketball is in the home stretch. Both basketball teams battled Azusa Pacific on the mainland, the women's team pulled out a last second win while the men lost versus the nation's 23rd ranked team. The men's and women's tennis teams both shutout Sonoma State in rain shortened matches on the Big Island.

The women's basketball team won its program-best 20th game of the season on Saturday at APU, 73-71. HPU remains in sole possession of first place in the PacWest Conference and avenges a loss from earlier in the season. The win clinches a first round bye in the PacWest Tournament.

Kylie Huerta scored with two seconds left to give HPU the lead and Jessi Reeves stole the ball on the ensuing APU possession to seal the win. Morganne Comstock had 19 points and 10 rebounds while Huerta totaled 16 points.

The men's basketball team ran in a buzz saw in APU. The PacWest's top ranked team, and west region powerhouse, got off to a hot start and never looked back, winning 78-50. Despite the loss, HPU remains in sixth place and in the PacWest Tournament field. Luke Hager led the way with 12 points and seven rebounds. Darry Jones Jr. added 11 points while Colfax Nordquist led the team with nine rebounds.

The sixth ranked women's tennis team blanked PacWest newcomer Sonoma State in a neutral site match in Kona. The match was called early due to rain with HPU winning the first six matches. The Sharks swept doubles play with a pair of 8-4 wins at first and second doubles. The team of Vivian Hansen and Sofia Tavitian kept HPU perfect heading to singles with a thrilling 9-7 win at third doubles.

In singles action, Nicole Hoynaski, Lorena Gheorghe, and Lea Kruse-Utermann each quickly dispatched their opponent allowing only one game each against.

The men's tennis team had a similar experience in its neutral site match vs. Sonoma State, winning 5-0. Maik Burlage and Yann Renault picked up an 8-3 win at second doubles while the other two Shark teams won 8-4.

The match was played in Kona, typically the drier side of the Big Island. It wasn't on Saturday, however, as the Sharks raced the rain to finish the match. Marko Lenz was perfect winning 6-0, 6-0 at first singles. Burlage then clinched the match with a straight set win (6-4, 6-1) at third singles.