HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University never trailed as the Sharks clobbered Douglas College (Canada) 80-44 on Thursday night in non-conference action at Moanalua High School Gym.
 
The Sharks (6-2, 2-1 PacWest) set or tied three school records as they picked up their sixth win in the last seven games. The Royals (4-2) played the game as an exhibition contest.
 
 "This was a good chance to play our bench a lot of minutes," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "I was pleased with our defensive play and our energy."
 
The Sharks were led by the play of junior guard Janessa Manzano of San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius, who scored 22 points with five assists, and tied a school record with six 3-point field goals. Freshman forward Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion, went 8-of-10 from the floor to score 18 points with four assists.
 
HPU set a school record with 14 blocked shots, as junior Gabriella Fotu tied the school record by blocking six shots. Fotu scored eight points with nine rebounds and added four steals. Freshman forward Jessica Harley of Melbourne, Australia/Caulfield Grammar added eight points with a team-high 10 rebounds, five blocks and four steals.
 
The Royals were paced by Rachel Beauchamp, daughter of Douglas head coach Steve Beauchamp, who double-doubled with 13 points and 10 boards. Sarah Jorgenson added eight points and seven rebounds.
 
HPU shot 47 percent from the field (33-of-71), including 47 percent from the 3-point arc (9-of-19). The Sharks made 5-of-8 (63 percent) from the foul line. Douglas was held to 28 percent from the floor (15-of-54), with 3-of-10 from the arc (30 percent) and 11-of-21 (52 percent) from the charity stripe. The Royals outrebounded HPU 46-38. HPU suffered 15 turnovers for eight DC points, while the Sharks collected 33 points off the Royals 30 turnovers.
 
HPU opened the game on a 9-2 run as freshman forward Makenna Gambee nailed a jumper with 6:44 remaining in the first for a seven-point lead. However the Royals would bounce back with a 7-0 run late in the quarter to tie the game at 12-all on a jumper in the lane from Nanaya Miki with 13 seconds remaining in the quarter. But when the Royals fouled with 0.2 seconds left in the quarter and Manzano hit both free throws to give HPU a 14-12 lead at the end of the first.
 
HPU used an 8-2 run to build a lead they wouldn't relinquish to start the second, capped by a Manzano triple. The Sharks pushed the lead to 10 to end the half on a layup from sophomore guard Starr Rivera of Honolulu/Roosevelt for a 30-20 lead.
 
After the Royals cut the lead to eight on a Jorgenson layup to start the third quarter, HPU responded with a 9-0 run to go up by 17 on a Marcucci 3-pointer. The Royals trimmed it to 13 with 2:24 left in the third before the Sharks kicked into gear with another 9-0 run to take a 55-33 lead.
 
HPU used defense to propel the offense further in the fourth quarter, expanding the 22 point lead to 36 points, winning 80-44 on a Harley layup.
 
The Sharks are back in action on Saturday morning in the Malika Sports Oahu Christmas Classic when they face Harding (4-6) at 11 a.m. at St. Francis School Gym.