IRVINE, Calif. — The Hawai'i Pacific University women had to hang on, but outlasted Concordia (Calif.) 79-72 on Saturday in PacWest Conference action at CU Arena.
 
The Sharks (14-4, 11-2) bounced back from a loss on Thursday to California Baptist to win the second game of their three-game Southern California road trip. The Eagles (8-12, 6-8) played never say die basketball in battling from a 19-point deficit to pull within five points down the stretch.
 
"I'm glad we got the win on the road," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "But I'm disappointed that we let Concordia back in the game. We've got a lot to play for as we come down the stretch in the conference."
 
The Sharks were led by freshman guard Danielle Iwami of Seal Beach, Calif./Los Alamitos, who hit six 3-point shots for her 18 points with three assists. Senior guard VeAnne Navarro of Modesto, Calif./Modesto Christian added 13 points with three steals, with junior guard Breanna Mackenzie from Melbourne, Australia/Box Hill scoring 11 and junior center Sarah Liva of Mililani, Hawai'i/Mililani came off the bench with 10 points.
 
Concordia got 22 points from Montana Walters, 14 points from Annie Studdert and a double-double of 11 points and 13 rebounds Ugochi Anudokem.
 
The Sharks connected on 44 percent of their shots from the field (32-of-72), including 11-of-34 from the 3-point arc (32 percent). HPU made 4-of-8 (50 percent) from the foul line. CUI made 45 percent from the floor (30-of-67), with 9-of-21 (43 percent) from the arc. The Eagles made just 3-of-10 (30 percent) from the free throw line.
 
CUI outrebounded the Sharks 43-39, but HPU suffered only 13 turnovers while forcing 20 turnovers from the Eagles.
 
Concordia jumped out on the Sharks early, picking up a seven-point lead midway through the first period when a Navarro layup keyed a 16-3 run for the Sharks to take a 23-17 after one.
 
The Sharks pushed the lead to double digits in the second quarter, and used an 11-2 run capped by a Iwami 3-pointer to take a 19-point 44-25 lead with 3:49 remaining in the period. The Eagles chipped away as the quarter ran down as the Sharks posted a 47-33 advantage at the half.
 
The third period was nearly even when Walters got a jumper to cut the HPU lead to 60-48 heading into the final 10 minutes.
 
HPU rebuilt a 15-point lead on a layup by sophomore forward Gabriella Fotu from Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto to lead 73-58 with four minutes to play. But that's when the Eagles made a final push. CUI went on a 12-2 run in the three minutes and when Studdert hit a 3, HPU's lead was down to 75-70 with 1:17 to go.
 
The Sharks answered with a layup by Liva to go up by seven with 33 seconds remaining, but the Eagles came down the floor for an answering layup by Ashley Earles with 12 seconds left. The Eagles fouled sending Mackenzie to the line who hit both free throws with six seconds remaining to seal the win 79-72.
 
HPU remains even in the loss column with Point Loma, but has played two less games than the Sea Lions to sit in third in the PacWest race. Both teams are two games in the loss column behind first place Cal Baptist.
 
The Sharks wrap up their three-game Southern California road trip on Monday at Azusa Pacific. Tipoff at the Felix Event Center is set for 3:30 HST (5:30 PST).