HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University gave a strong performance while fighting foul trouble before falling to Division I neighbor Hawai'i 66-51 on Sunday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center
 
The contest was an exhibition for the Sharks (3-4, 2-0) while counting for the Rainbow Wahine (3-7) and opened a stretch of four games in seven days for HPU.
 
HPU overcame a 10-point deficit in the second quarter and held a lead in the third quarter before a thin bench and fouls put them at a severe disadvantage to the Wahine.
 
The Sharks suited only eight players for the contest, as top scorers Alysha Marcucci, a sophomore from Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion, and Samantha Lambrigtsen, a senior from Oregon, Ill./Oregon HS, did not dress while nursing nagging injuries.
 
HPU stayed in within striking distance of UH until losing half the squad was fouled out.
 
"I'm so excited and pleased with the way our young team played today against adversity," said HPU coach Reid Takatsuka. "We were challenged and we had to have our freshmen and sophomore take some assignments that they weren't comfortable with. They did well and I'm looking forward from here."
 
The Sharks were led in scoring by freshman Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary who collected 16 points to go with a game-high five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Freshman Abbey Noblett of Morwell, Australia/Lavalla Catholic added 11 points with six rebounds and a steal, while sophomore Makenna Gambee of Hillsboro, Ore., scored 10 points and led the Sharks with seven rebounds.
 
The Rainbow Wahine got a double-double of 20 points and 15 rebounds from Makenna Woodfolk and 19 points from Courtney Middap as the only players for UH in double-figures. Leah Salanoa posted nine points with seven boards.
 
HPU outshot UH from the floor, hitting 21-of-58 (36 percent) from the field, including 7-of-22 (32 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Rainbow Wahine made 16-of-47 (34 percent) from the floor, and 5-of-18 (28 percent) from the arc. The difference in the game was at the free throw line, where HPU was 2-of-3 (67 percent) to the Rainbow Wahine's 29-of-34 (85 percent). UH outboarded the Sharks 41-28, and suffered more turnovers than HPU 14-11.
 
After exchanging early scores, Hawai'i went on a 9-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Middap with 2:15 remaining in the first quarter. The teams exchanged points with the Sharks closing to eight at 17-9 on a 3-pointer by junior Starr Rivera of Honolulu/Roosevelt with 15 seconds left. But Salanoa nailed a 3 just before the quarter buzzer to send the lead to 11 over the Sharks 20-9.
 
The Sharks opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to pull within four at 20-16 on a layup by freshman Lauryn Hippolite of Nelson, New Zealand/Middleton Grange with 8:19 left in the half. UH got the next two scores to return to a 10-point lead when the Sharks made their move.
 
Baum got a layup and followed it with a triple to start an 11-0 run that was finished with a pair of jumpers from Gambee to take a 27-26 lead with 1:21 remaining before intermission. The Wahine got a pair of free throws from Salanoa to retake the lead and go into the half up 28-27.
 
The Sharks started the third period with a layups from Noblett and Gambee to take a 3-point 31-28 lead. It would be the largest for HPU on the afternoon. The Rainbow Wahine answered with a 10-0 run and didn't trail again. HPU pulled within four on a 3-pointer from Baum, but Hawai'i came back. Baum hit another trey as the Sharks trailed UH 50-42 after three.
 
HPU got within six on a Gambee layup, but fouls caught up to the Sharks. Having lost Rivera in the third quarter to fouling out, Gambee followed in the fourth and UH opened a 10-point lead. HPU trimmed it back inside of that mark but lost freshman Kaylee Berry of San Diego/La Costa Canyon, fouled out the Wahine expanded the lead to 12 (the largest of the game at that point). When sophomore McKenzie Alton from Sammamish, Wash./Bellarmine fouled out with 1:38 to play, the Sharks had to finish the game with four players on the floor and the Wahine pushed the lead to a 15-point final of 66-51.
 
The contest didn't count against HPU's record, but sends the Sharks into a busy week. The Sharks have three more contests this week, starting with a game at Chaminade on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. at McCabe Gym.