BELMONT, Calif. — Hawai'i Pacific University ran its winning streak to five straight as they wiped out Notre Dame de Namur 91-45 in PacWest Conference action Monday evening at Gleason Gym on the NDNU campus.
 
The Sharks (11-3, 8-1) never trailed in the game and used a 22-0 run as part of a 29-2 second quarter to put away the Argonauts (8-8, 6-3) early.
 
"We were able to put together a whole game tonight," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "Offense, defense, ball protection. I was really pleased with the how we played."
 
The Sharks got double-digit scoring from five players led by sophomore forward Gabriella Fotu from Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto who collected a career-high 19 points to go with five rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Sophomore guard Janessa Manzano from San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius had another strong game in the Bay Area, coming off the bench with 18 points. Freshman guard Danielle Iwami from Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos added 16 points with five assists. Junior guard Breanna Mackenzie from Melbourne, Australia/Box Hill, just missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds to go with five assists, while senior forward Cece Pearl of Peoria, Ariz./Peoria tallied 12 points with eight boards and three steals.
 
NDNU got almost half of its scoring from Marissa Caballero, the only Argo in double figures, who collected 21 points to go with six rebounds. Emily Tevez had eight points with six boards and three assists.
 
The Sharks shot 54 percent from the floor on Monday night, hitting 40-of-74 shots, including 10-of-29 (35 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU hit one of the two shots from the charity stripe. HPU limited the Argonauts to just 30 percent from the floor (19-of-64), holding NDNU to 1-of-19 (5.3 percent) outside the arc. NDNU connected on 6-of-7 (86 percent) shots from the foul line.
 
HPU dominated the boards 53-27 and turned the ball over only 11 times, while forcing 14 Argo turnovers.
 
The Sharks never trailed, but were tied at 2-all early before Iwami hit a 3-pointer to put HPU up 5-2. The teams hung close until Fotu, Iwami and Mackenzie connected on back-to-back-to-back layups for some breathing room. HPU posted an eight-point, 22-14 lead after the first period.
 
But it was the second period that the Sharks smelled blood and went for the kill. HPU got back-to-back steals that led to layups by Mackenzie and Fotu to start the quarter and key a 22-0 run, 24-0 if you include the last basket of the first quarter by Pearl and the Sharks were on a roll. The Argonauts got a jumper from Caballero to break the run, but HPU answered with another 7-0 run. Pearl nailed two buckets and junior guard Spencer Gray from Centerville, Ohio/Centerville came off the bench with a 3-pointer to cap a 29-2 quarter and a 49-16 lead at intermission.
 
The third quarter was more of the same, as the Sharks opened with a 10-0 run to open a 45-point lead three-and-a half minutes in the period. HPU finished the quarter up 73-27.
 
The Sharks and Argonauts played even through the final quarter, each scoring 18 points to end the affair at 91-45.
 
HPU moved into sole possession of second place in the PacWest, one game behind California Baptist. CBU defeated Academy of Art 82-68, while Point Loma dropped a 74-65 decision at Azusa Pacific. PLU and ArtU are tied for third with NDNU alone in fifth.
 
The Sharks return to Hawai'i, but have to hit the road for one more game when they visit the Big Island to face Hawai'i-Hilo in a 1 p.m. game on Saturday.