HONOLULU — Hawai'i Pacific University picked up its 20th win of the season and finished in a tie for second in the PacWest Conference with a regular-season closing 52-37 win at cross-town rival Chaminade Saturday evening at McCabe Gym.
 
The Sharks (20-5, 17-3) are the number three seed in the PacWest Conference Tournament next week. The Silverswords (3-21, 3-17) end the season with the loss.
 
 "It's a nice win and our 20th," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "Everyone who was dressed got was involved and now it's time to move to the tournament."
 
The Sharks had balanced scoring throughout the squad, led by senior guard Brianne Yasukochi of Oceanside, Calif./LaJolla Country Day and freshman guard Danielle Iwami of Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos who both scored eight points with two assists. Senior guard Samantha Compos of Sacramento, Calif./Inderkum and junior forward Jessi Reeves of Coffs Harbour, Australia/John Paul added eight points.  Sophomore forward Gabriella Fotu of Auckland, New Zealand led the Sharks with seven rebounds.
 
Chaminade was led by Lilia Maio with nine points and five rebounds. Destiny Castro added eight points for the Silverswords.
 
The Sharks shot 38 percent from the floor (16-of-42), including 33 percent (4-of-12) from the 3-point arc. HPU connected on 16-of-22 (73 percent) from the free throw line. The Swords made 33 percent from the field (16-of-49), with 1-of-11 (9 percent) from the arc and 4-of-9 (44 percent) from the foul line.
 
The teams were even on the boards at 31, while HPU suffered 16 turnovers to 17 for the Swords.
 
The Sharks and Swords played close during the first quarter of action, with CUH grabbing the lead a final time with a fast break layup by Destiny Castro with 4:10 in the period for an 11-9 advantage. Then HPU went on a 7-0 run capped by a fast break layup by Samantha Campos for a five point lead that the Sharks would not relinquish. HPU held a 16-13 advantage after the first.
 
The Sharks opened the game up in the second quarter, closing on a 7-1 run with Campos' free throws for a 31-20 lead at the break.
 
The Sharks continued to extend the lead during the third quarter, using a 12-1 run over the last 5:11 of the quarter with Reeves keying the run with a pair of layups. HPU built an 18-point 45-27 lead after three quarters.
 
The Swords trimmed back on the Sharks lead in the final quarter, but HPU managed the clock to limit possessions and finished with the 15-point win, 52-37 to take a share of second place in the PacWest.
 
HPU has the number three seed in the PacWest Tournament in Irvine, Calif., starting on Thursday. The Sharks will face sixth-seed Dominican (Calif.) in the quarterfinal game on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. HST (12:30 p.m. PST).