HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University never led, but a strong fourth quarter performance cut a 15-point deficit to five as the Sharks fell to Division I neighbor Hawai'i 76-71 on Tuesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The game was the only exhibition contest for both teams prior to starting the 2019-20 regular season in November.
 
The Sharks had closed an early double-digit lead to five points in the third quarter before foul trouble allowed the Wahine to build a 15-point 62-47 lead with just under nine minutes to play.
 
HPU rallied to cut the lead down the stretch, but it was not enough as UH took the 76-71 lead.
 
The Sharks shot 36 percent from the floor (24-of-67), including 10-of-29 from the 3-point arc (35 percent). HPU made 13-of-14 free throws (93 percent). Hawai'i hit 44 percent from the field (19-of-43), that included 6-of-17 from the arc (35 percent). The Wahine connected on 32-of-38 (84 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
HPU was paced by junior Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion, with 18 points, while sophomore Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary added 15 points. Both hit three 3-point field goals a piece. Junior Makenna Gambee of Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro, came back from the HPU volleyball team to lead the Sharks in four rebounds before fouling out.
 
UH was paced by Julissa Tago with 23 points, including four 3-pointers. Amy Atwell added 13 points and Lauren Rewers 10 points with a game-high eight rebounds.
 
HPU opens the season on Friday, Nov. 9 when they take on Northwest Nazarene in the Central Washington Wildcat Crossover Classic in Ellensburg, Wash. Tipoff is slated for 10 a.m. HST (Noon PDT).