HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University won its third straight contest as it opened the Malika Sports Oahu Christmas Classic with a 78-69 victory over Harding (Ark.) at St. Francis Gym on Saturday.
 
The Sharks (7-2, 2-1 PacWest) also won their seventh game out of the last eight contests. The Royals (4-2) played the game as an exhibition contest.
 
 "We played with a lot of energy today," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "We played well on the perimeter offensively and controlled the inside defensively."
 
The Sharks were led off the bench by junior guard Samantha Lambrigtsen of Oregon, Ill./Oregon, who led all scorers with 17 points. Senior guard Spencer Gray of Centerville, Ohio/Centerville added 11 points with two steals and junior guard Janessa Manzano of San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius, posted 10 points. The Sharks got five rebounds from freshman forward Alysha Marcucci, freshman forward Makenna  Gambee of Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro and senior center Anna Mumm of Luguna Hills, Calif./Laguna Hills, who also led the team with three blocked shots.
 
Harding was paced off the bench by Sydnie Jones with 13 points and six boards, starter Caroline Hogue with 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots and Kennedy Cooper off the bench with 12 points.
 
HPU shot 43 percent from the field (29-of-68), including 47 percent from the 3-point arc (7-of-15). The Sharks made 13-of-20 (65 percent) from the foul line. Harding connected on 45 percent from the floor (23-of-51) and hit 40 percent (4-of-10) from the arc. However the Bisons were 19-of-32 (59 percent) from the charity stripe. HPU controlled the boards 41-to-34. HU turned the ball over 19 times allowing 16 HPU points, while the Sharks suffered 12 turnovers and allowed the Bisons 11 points.
 
The Bisons opened the game with a 3-pointer from Amanda Kearney on their first possession, but Manzano answered with a 3 to tie the game. Harding took another brief lead at 7-all on Hogue's free throws before HPU rallied on consecutive layups by senior forward Jessi Reeves of Coffs Harbour, Australia/John Paul to start a 10-3 run and never trail again. The Sharks led 18-13 at the quarter.
 
The Bisons Peyton Padgett buried a 3-pointer to start the second quarter and pull within 18-16, but the Sharks made a 6-0 run and never looked back. HPU got a 3-pointer from junior forward Gabriella Fotu of Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto and a free throw from Lambrigtsen for a 36-27 lead at halftime.
 
The Sharks opened the lead to 11 points early in the third quarter after a Marcucci layup before Harding made a final charge. The Bison went on a 6-0 run to pull within three at 42-39 with 4:35 remaining in the quarter on a Kellie Lampo layup. However, Lambrigtsen answered with a 3-pointer on the next possession to up the lead back to six. HPU held that lead for a 52-46 advantage at the quarter break.
 
In the fourth, the Bisons again cut the lead to three at 62-59. But once again Lambrigtsen buried a 3-pointer and got a layup to start a 9-1 run to put the game away as HPU won 78-69.
 
The Sharks are play the final game of the Malika Sports Oahu Christmas Classic on Tuesday morning against Montana State Billings. Tipoff is set for 8 a.m. at Kilauea Recreation Center.