ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Hawai'i Pacific University grabbed its first win of the season in grand style with a 91-77 triumph over Northwest Nazarene in Central Washington's Wildcat Thanksgiving Classic at Nicholson Pavilion Friday afternoon.
 
The Sharks (1-2) scored on their first possession of the game and never trailed as they handed the Crusaders (0-3) their third straight loss.
 
Senior VeAnne Navarro, a 5-6 guard from Modesto, Calif./Modesto Christian, led the Sharks with 23 points in 23 minutes, connecting of 6-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-6 from the 3-point arc and 8-of-11 from the foul line.
 
Senior Cece Pearl, a 5-11 forward from Peoria, Ariz./Peoria, came off the bench with 17 points and eight rebounds, while senior Aminata Cole, a 5-10 center from Anchorage, Alaska/Dimond, scored 12 points with eight rebounds. Guard Danielle Iwami, a 5-7 freshman from Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos, collected 11 points with four assists.
 
NNU was paced by Raquel Jardine with 19 points off the bench, with Maya Rogers added 15 points. Starting center Kate Cryderman was the only starter in double digits with 11 points.
 
HPU shot 44 percent from the floor (28-of-63), including 38 percent (8-of-21) from the 3-point arc and 27-of-37 (73 percent) from the free throw line. NNU shot 47 percent from the floor (27-of-57) and 39 percent from the arc (7-of-18), but only 16-of-23 (69 percent). The Sharks dominated the boards, bettering Northwest Nazarene 46-27.
 
HPU opened with a 3-pointer from Iwami 17 seconds in the game and never trailed. The Sharks and Crusaders were tight midway through the first quarter until HPU went on a 10-2 run and led 33-23 after one.
 
The Sharks extended their lead in the second quarter after NNU cut the game to an eight-point differential, getting an 8-0 run capped by a layup by forward Breanna Mackenzie, a 5-9 junior from Melbourne, Australia/Box Hill to lead by 16. The Sharks settled for a 15-point, 49-34 advantage at the half.
 
The Crusaders made a run at HPU in the third quarter, narrowing the contest to seven at 68-61 with 2:34 left in the period. The Sharks responded with a 13-2 run to close the period leading by 18 at 81-63.
 
HPU cruised during the fourth, opening up a 19-point advantage before NNU scored a layup and 3-point to make the final 91-77.
 
The Sharks play again on Saturday afternoon when they take on host Central Washington at 1:30 HST (3:30 CST). CWU lost to Cal State-San Bernardino 66-53 in the other first day game of the Wildcat Thanksgiving Classic.