HONOLULU – The nationally ranked Hawai'i Pacific University women tipped off the holiday season in the right way with a 71-58 victory over the NAIA's Hope International in an exhibition game at The Shark Tank on Friday evening.
 
The Sharks (9-1), ranked 14th in the WBCA Coaches poll and 10th in the D2SIDA poll, never trailed against the Royals (10-2) in the contest that didn't affect the record of either team.
 
Senior Starr Rivera of Honolulu/Roosevelt buried six 3-pointers to lead the Sharks with 26 points. Sophomore Abbey Noblett of Morwell, Australia/Lavalla Catholic added 22 points. Junior Alysha Marcucci of Melbourne, Australia/Marist-Sion threatened a triple-double with nine points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Sophomore Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the game on the glass.
 
The Royals were paced by Rhianne Omori of Honolulu/Maryknoll with 16 points as the only HIU player in double figures. Shianne Talley led the Royals with seven rebounds.
 
The Sharks connected on 28-of-69 shots from the field (41 percent), including 10-of-32 (31 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU made 5-of-8 (63 percent) from free throw line. Hope International shot 25 percent (17-of-68) from the floor, including 4-of-17 (24 percent) from the arc. The Royals made 20-of-29 (69 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
The Sharks got out of the blocks early, using a Marcucci 3-pointer to key an 8-0 run that extended to an 11-2 run to put the Sharks in control. HPU pushed that lead to 19-7 thanks to a Noblett layup just before the end of the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Hope International made a push and sliced HPU's lead to six points at 21-15, only to have Baum get a traditional layup-free throw 3-point play to key a 7-2 run. Sophomore Ally Bates of Melbourne, Australia/Yarra Valley buried a 3-pointer to give the Sharks a 31-17 lead at the half.
 
The Sharks kept up the attack the second half, with Rivera opening the third quarter with a 3-pointer and etched out an 18-point lead. Bates added a 3-pointer with 2:27 to play in the period, with the Royals chipping back. Noblett hit a jumper with 18 second left in the third for a 54-39 lead at the quarter's end.
 
HPU held steady in the final frame, eventually building a 20-point lead on a Rivera triple with 56 seconds left. Omori hit a pair of 3's for the Royals to make the final score 71-57.
 
The Sharks are off for a holiday break, and will return to the competitive hardwood on Thursday, Jan. 2, when they host Biola in PacWest Conference play. Tipoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. at The Shark Tank.