HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University got a double-double from senior Jessi Reeves as the Sharks posted a 75-61 non-conference win over Minnesota State Wednesday morning in the Malika Sports Oahu Classic at St. Francis High School Gymnasium.
 
The Sharks (3-1) controlled the game with the Mavericks (0-4), allowing the game to stay close until the fourth quarter when HPU opened up the contest for its third straight win.
 
"We came away with a good win," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "We hustled the whole game and we played 11 folks, but I didn't like the 19 turnovers. That kept Minnesota State in the game."
 
A senior forward from Coffs Harbour, Australia/John Paul, Reeves collected 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead all scorers and rebounders, as she dished out two assists with two steals. Freshman forward Jessica Harley of Melbourne, Australia/Caulfield, added nine points, while junior forward Gabriella Fotu of Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto and freshman forward Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion each popped for eight points with Fotu leading the Sharks with five assists.
 
The Mavericks got 15 points and six rebounds from Claire Ziegler, with Logan Anderson chipping in 11 points and six boards, with Taylor Drost adding 10 points.
 
HPU shot 47 percent from the floor (27-of-57), including 64 percent from the 3-point arc (7-of-11). The Sharks canned 14-of-16 from the free throw line (88 percent). Minnesota State hit 36 percent from the floor (21-of-59), but only seven percent (1-of-14) from the arc. The Mavs connected on 18-of-26 from the charity stripe (69 percent). The Sharks led on the boards 40-33, and had one more turnover, 19-18, than the Mavericks.
 
The teams traded the lead eight times in the opening quarter and took the lead with a 6-0 run at the end of the period on a Harley layup to go with a pair of free throws and a layup by Reeves for a 16-13 lead at the quarter break.
 
The Mavericks came back in the second with a 6-0 run to retake the lead and after a pair HPU free throws, pushed it to a four-point advantage on Anderson's 3-pointer with 6:33 in the half to make it 22-18.
 
That's when Reeves got a jumper in the lane to start a 10-0 run that was capped by a 3-pointer from junior guard Brittany Allen of Richlands, Va./Richlands to open up a 28-22 lead for the Sharks  with 3:52 before the half. HPU closed the half with back-to-back 3's from junior guard Janessa Manzano of San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius and a layup by senior guard Spencer Gray of Centerville, Ohio/Centerville to take an eight-point 36-28 into halftime.
 
Minnesota State opened the third on a 6-0 run  and extended it to a 10-2 run to tie the game at 38-all with 5:19 to play in the quarter. However, HPU got a pair of Allen free throws 22 seconds later and never trailed again. A Fotu layup with 30 second left in the period put HPU back on top 54-48 at the end of the third.
 
After allowing a Maverick basket to open the fourth, HPU ripped off a 7-0 run to take an 11-point lead and extended it to a 15-3 stretch to firmly take control. A pair of Reeves free throws made it an 18-point advantage with 1:30 to go and the Sharks rode out the final 90 seconds for a 75-61 win.
 
The Sharks will get time off to enjoy the holiday before preparing for their next outing on Thursday of next week, when they host PacWest Conference newcomer Biola to start league play. Tipoff at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center is at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 30.