HILO, Hawai'i — The Hawai'i Pacific University women ran their winning streak to six straight on Saturday afternoon with a 56-47 PacWest Conference victory over Hawai'i-Hilo at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
 
The Sharks (12-3, 9-1) let an 18-point first-half lead get away in the third quarter, but closed out the Vulcans (4-9, 4-6) to sweep the regular season series.
 
"We got into a lull and had to snap out of it," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "I'm glad we did. We didn't shoot very well, but played strong defense when we needed to and came out with a win on the road."
 
The Sharks were led by junior forward Jessi Reeves of Coffs Harbour, Australia, who matched a season-high with 15 points. Sophomore guard Janessa Manzano from San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius added 11 points as the only other Shark in double-figures. Junior guard Breanna Mackenzie from Melbourne, Australia/Box Hill, recorded a career-high 15 rebounds to go with her six points and six steals.
 
UHH was paced by Vanessa Macera with 13 points, the only Vulcan in double figures. Asia Smith recorded 13 rebounds with seven points for UHH.
 
Neither team shot well in the contest. The Sharks connected on just 29 percent of their shots from the field (19-of-65), including 5-of-20 (25 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU hit 13-of-22 free throws (59 percent). Hawai'i-Hilo also shot 29 percent from the floor (14-of-48), and hit 5-of-17 (29 percent) from the arc. UHH was 14-of-24 (58 percent) from the foul line.
 
With a score on their first shot by Mackenzie and a followup 3-pointer from freshman guard Danielle Iwami from Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos, the Sharks opened up the game on a 16-2 run that included an 11-0 run after the Vulcans got their first score on a jumper by Kim Schmelz. HPU carried an 18-6 lead into the quarter break.
 
HPU opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to take an 18-point 24-6 lead. The Vulcans would mount a bit of a comeback before halftime. With HPU up 25-8, the Vulcans held HPU scoreless the final 3:47 of the period while scoring nine straight points to send the game to the half at 25-17.
 
In the third, the teams swapped scores before the Vulcans went on a 12-4 run capped by a Lauren Hong 3-pointer to claim a 36-35 lead with 2:11 left in the third. The Sharks countered with a Manzano 3-ball for a 38-36 advantage, but UHH tied the score at 38 on a pair of Sydney Mercer free throws with 1:11 to play in the quarter.
 
The Sharks got a Mackenzie jumper to retake the lead before allowing a Hong free throw for a 40-39 advantage after three quarters.
 
HPU took over in the final quarter, opening with a pair of layups by Reeves to spark a 9-2 run that was capped by a 3-pointer by junior guard Spencer Gray from Centerville, Ohio/Centerville.
 
HPU then let the free throw line be the guide as the Sharks hit 7-of-10 shots to hold on for the 56-47 victory.
 
The Sharks close a five-game road trip with the win and return home to face BYU-Hawaii in a 4:30 p.m. contest on Thursday at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.