SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University opened the 2018-19 campaign on a sour note, dropping the season opener to Cal State San Marcos on Friday night at the CSUSM Sports Center.
 
The Sharks (0-1) never led in the second half, while the Cougars (1-0) picked up a season-opening victory for the first time in program history.
 
"This was a game where we'd take one step forward, then two steps back," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "We've got a young team and it may take a few games to get together."
 
The Sharks were led by the play of senior guard Samantha Lambrigtsen of Oregon, Ill./Oregon, who scored 15 points with eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion collected 13 points with five steals and two blocks, while true freshman guard Lauryn Hippolite of Nelson, New Zealand/Middle Grange added 11 points.
 
CSU San Marcos was paced by Jon'Nae Vermillion, who double-doubled with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Dynnah Bucker scored 14 points with seven boards and Emma Forel chipped in 10 points with five boards.
 
HPU shot just 27 percent from the floor in the season opener, connecting on 16-of-60 attempts, while hitting 20 percent (4-of-20) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks hit 21-of-32 free throw attempts (66 percent).
 
The Cougars did a shot a bit better, hitting 39 percent (22-of-57) from the field, but just 1-of-8 from the 3-point arc (13 percent). CSUSM made 19-of-30 free throws (63 percent). The Cougars dominated the glass, outrebounding the Sharks 48-39 and committed one less turnover with 13 to 14 for the Sharks.
 
HPU drew first blood, but CSU San Marcos recoiled to take a 16-14 advantage after the opening quarter.
 
After CSUSM opened the second quarter with a bucket, the Sharks responded with a 6-0 run to retake the lead on a Marcucci layup. The teams traded scores that left HPU with a 24-23 lead in the last three minutes of the half. Cougar Akayla Hackson spoiled it for the visiting Sharks by burying a 3 with 2:24 remaining for a 26-24 lead and HPU never saw the advantage again. The half ended with the Cougars up on a Buckner layup 32-28.
 
The third period stayed close, with Cal State San Marcos maintaining a lead and expanding it to five points on another Buckner layup in the closing seconds for a 47-42 lead.
 
HPU made a move to start the final period, as Hippolite nailed a triple and a Lambrigtsen layup tied the game at 47-all with 9:15 to play. HPU didn't know it would be the last tied score. Stephanie Custodio's layup started a 5-0 run and the Cougars paused the threat.
 
The Sharks closed back to within three a few times, the last at 56-53 with 2:20 remaining after a pair of free throws by freshman guard Abbey Noblett of Morwell, Australia/Lavalla Catholic.
 
But the Cougars closed with a final 8-4 run and handed the Sharks the 64-57 loss.
 
HPU doesn't have long to dwell on the defeat as the Sharks are back in action on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. HST (4 p.m. PST) when they face UC San Diego in a neutral site affair in San Marcos.