HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University led nearly wire-to-wire in winning its first home game of the season, as the Sharks clobbered Minnesota Crookston 83-53 on Friday night in the Malika Sports Oahu Classic at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (4-0) trailed only because of an administrative technical foul that the Golden Eagles (0-3) converted before the tipoff. After the contest started, HPU went on an 8-0 run and never trailed again.
 
Sophomore transfer Ally Bates of Melbourne, Australia/Yarra Valley via Division I Utah Valley came off the bench to lead the Sharks with 18 points. Junior Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion and senior Starr Rivera of Honolulu/Roosevelt both added 14 points, with Marcucci also collecting four rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots. Sophomore Abbey Noblett of Morwell, Australia/Lavalla Catholic chipped in 11 points with seven boards, and freshman Avery Cargill of Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman had 10 points from the bench with three steals. Sophomore Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary, scored just seven points, but dished out six assists with five rebounds.
 
Minnesota Crookston did not have a player scoring in double figures, but Mattea Vetsch came off the bench with nine points to lead the way. Mary Burke scored eight points and Bren Fox added six points with eight rebounds.
 
HPU made 29-of-67 shots from the field (43 percent), hitting 6-of-16 (38 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks made 91 percent of their free throws (19-of-21). UMC connected on 17-of-50 (34 percent) from the floor, including 4-of-20 (20 percent) from the arc. The Golden Eagles made 15-of-22 (68 percent) of their attempts from the charity stripe. Crookston won the battle of the boards 40-37, but the Sharks turned the ball over just seven times to the Golden Eagles 27.
 
UMC took its only lead after Paige Weakley made two free throws because of an equipment malfunction caused an administrative technical foul. After the tip, Baum buried a 3-pointer to give HPU the lead it wouldn't relinquish as the Sharks opened on an 8-0 run. The Eagles clawed back and got within one at 16-15 at end of the first period.
 
The Sharks all but ended the game when the second quarter started. Marcucci hit a 3-pointer to start a 14-0 run capped by a Cargill layup with 6:30 to play that put HPU up 30-15. The Sharks held a double-digit lead the rest of the night. Bates ended the half with a 3-pointer to put HPU up 47-29 at halftime.
 
The Golden Eagles tried to mount a comeback with a 4-0 run to start the second half, but the Sharks answered it and extended the lead to 21 at 56-35 midway through the third quarter. HPU led by 25 late, only to have a pair of Fox free throws make it 66-43 at the quarter break.
 
Playing mostly non-starters in the final quarter, HPU got the lead up to 30 quickly with the first time reaching the mark on a jumper by freshman Maja Leidefors of Jonkoping, Sweden/Sandagymnasiet. The teams swapped scores for the rest of the contest with graduate transfer Kristine Sellona of San Diego, Calif./Mater Dei via California Baptist adding the bow on the contest with a 3-pointer in the final minute.
 
The Sharks have a few days off before their next action. They continue in the Oahu Thanksgiving Classic on Wednesday, Nov. 27 against Souix Falls. Tipoff at the Shark Tank is slated for 4:30 p.m.