HONOLULU – No. 21 Hawai'i Pacific University's school record 19-game winning streak came to an end on Thursday night as No. 19 Azusa Pacific defeated the Sharks 81-63 in PacWest Conference action at Moanalua High School Gym.
 
The loss for the Sharks (23-3, 17-2) was the first for the Sharks since Dec. 2, while the Cougars (26.-3, 17-2) picked up their eighth straight win and avenged HPU's 73-69 win in January. The teams are tied for the PacWest Conference lead with one game to go.
 
 "This wasn't the way we wanted to see the seniors go out at home," said HPU head coach Reid Takatsuka. "But Azusa Pacific is a super team and we didn't have what it took tonight. We can regroup, finish strong on Saturday and get ready for the conference tournament."
 
HPU was led by junior guard Samantha Lambrigtsen of Oregon, Ill./Oregon HS, who collected 13 points with four rebounds. Senior forward Jessi Reeves of Coffs Harbour, Australia/John Paul, posted 12 points and four boards before fouling out with 7:13 remaining. Senior guard Spencer Gray of Centerville, Ohio/Centerville added 11 points with six rebounds. Senior center Anna Mumm of Laguna Hills, Calif./Laguna Hills led the Sharks with nine rebounds to go with seven points.
 
Azusa Pacific was paced by Abbigail Goodsell with 30 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Savanna Hanson posted 17 points with eight rebounds, while Gabrielle Kaiser dropped 13 points and led the Cougars with nine rebounds.
 
HPU shot a season-low 28.8 percent from the field (17-59), including a season-low 11.8 percent from the 3-point arc (2-of-17). The Sharks hit 27-of-34 (79.4 percent) from the free throw line. Azusa shot 38 percent (24-of-63) from the floor, but nailed 8-of-23 (35 percent) from the arc and 25-of-37 (68 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
While the Cougars held a lead from the start, HPU overcame an 11-8 deficit with a pair of baskets from Mumm and took a 12-11 lead with 5:40 left in the opening quarter. But that was HPU's only lead and it lasted for only 15 seconds. Savanna Hanson answered with a layup and free throw to put APU back in front and keyed an 11-0 run to end the first quarter with a 22-12 lead.
 
The Cougars made it a 13-0 run with a Kaiser layup to start the second period before junior forward Gabriella Fotu of Auckland, New Zealand/Rangitoto, responded with a layup. HPU got the lead down to five in the quarter after a pair of Gray free throws with 3:17 to play made it 29-24.
 
But a triple from APU's Gina Henderson squashed the comeback and the Cougars worked the lead back to nine at 35-26 at halftime.
 
Azusa Pacific put the game away at the start of the third quarter, opening with a Savana Hanson 3-pointer to touch off an 8-0 run that expanded to a 15-4 run for a 50-30 lead with 5:44 in the quarter. HPU trimmed the lead a bit, still the Cougars held a 19-point 64-45 advantage after three.
 
APU eventually built a 23-point lead in the fourth quarter before the Sharks fought it back. A final layup by freshman forward Alysha Marcucci of of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion, brought the score down to the 81-63 final score.
 
The No. 21 Sharks close out the regular season on Saturday against Hawai'i Hilo at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. Tipoff is set for 5:30. A victory for the Sharks would give them at least a share of the PacWest Conference Championship.