BELMONT, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University set a new school record for fewest points allowed in a game as HPU led wire-to-wire to rip Notre Dame de Namur 55-27 in PacWest Conference play Thursday evening at NDNU's Gleason Gym.
 
The Sharks (12-5, 10-1) held the Argonauts (4-12, 3-9) to the second fewest points in a PacWest game. The PacWest record for fewest points scored in a game is 26 by Chaminade, in a 52-26 loss to Hawai'i Hilo on Feb. 3, 2011 in Honolulu. HPU's fewest points allowed came in the Swords next game when HPU beat Chaminade 71-29 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center on Feb. 8, 2011.
 
The defending PacWest Conference Champion Sharks picked up their fifth straight victory and the 11th in the last 12 games. HPU moved into sole possession of second place in the PacWest, a game behind in the loss column to Azusa Pacific.
 
HPU was paced by sophomore Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion with 13 points and four steals, while senior Breanna Mackenzie of Melbourne, Australia/Box Hill popped in 12 points with three assists and three steals. Freshman Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-high eight rebounds and a game-high six assists.
 
The Argonauts got nine points and eight rebounds from Rachel Pau'u and nine points with four boards from Jenise McKnight.
 
The Sharks held NDNU to just 21.9 percent shooting from the floor (7-of-32), with only one 3-pointer in 11 attempts (9.1 percent). The Argos made 12-of-20 free throws (60 percent). HPU was cold from the field as well, hitting just 35 percent (20-of-57), but made 11-of-29 (38 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU was 4-of-6 (67 percent) from the foul line. The Sharks won the battle of the boards 37-30 and forced 24 NDNU turnovers while suffering 11 of their own.
 
The Sharks opened the game with an 11-0 run, opening with a Marcucci jumper and closing it with a 3-pointer from freshman Abbey Noblett of Morwell, Australia/Lavalla Catholic. HPU held the Argos to just a single point in the opening 10 minutes, getting a free throw from Pau'u with 3:05 to go in the period. Neither team scored again before the horn as HPU led 11-1 at the quarter.
 
NDNU added another free throw to start the second quarter before the Sharks went on a 14-0 run with treys from Baum on both ends to take a 23-point 25-2 lead with 4:34 left. The Argos followed with an 11-2 run capped by a Lindsay Bates 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer as HPU led 29-15 at the half.
 
That was a close as NDNU would get as the Sharks opened with a 7-0 run and stretched it to a 9-1 run in the first 5:30 of the third quarter on a layup by senior Samantha Lambrigtsen of Oregon, Ill./Oregon HS for a 38-16 lead. NDNU trimmed the lead to 19 with a Pau'u free throw just before the quarter as the Sharks carried a 38-19 lead after three.
 
Marcucci buried a 3 to start the fourth with a 9-0 run and the Sharks never led by less than 23 the rest of the way. HPU allowed eight points in the quarter, but pushed the lead to 29 on a triple by freshman Kaylee Berry of San Diego/La Costa Canyon. A NDNU free throw settled the game at 55-27.
 
The Sharks don't have much time to enjoy the record-setting defensive performance as they are back in PacWest Conference action on Saturday in Oakland against Holy Names. Tipoff at Tobin Gym is at 2 p.m. HST (4 p.m. PST).