LACEY, Wash. – No. 25 Hawai'i Pacific University had four of their five starters score in double figures on the way to a season-opening 85-61 non-conference victory over Western Oregon on Friday afternoon at Saint Martin's Marcus Pavilion.
The Sharks (1-0) picked up their 39th straight regular season victory in downing the Wolves (0-1).
The Sharks struggled in the opening half, falling behind by eight points in the second quarter before busting off a 10-0 run midway through the quarter and never trailed again.
HPU was paced by newcomer
Tavia Rowell, a junior from Langley, British Columbia Canada/Walnut Grove via Division I Grand Canyon, who just missed a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds. Junior
Avery Cargill of Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman scored 18 points, while senior All-American
Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary added 16 points with nine rebounds and seven assists in 29 minutes. Graduate transfer
Julia Razo of Woodland, Calif./St. Francis added 13 points.
Western Oregon was led by Meadow Aragon with 12 points and eight rebounds, with Kaelin Williams-Kennedy also pitching in 12 points. Ana McClave added 11 points for WOU.
HPU shot 45 percent from the floor (29-of-65), including 8-of-21 (38 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks connected on 19-of-24 from the free throw line (79 percent). WOU shot 42 percent from the field (22-of-53), with 5-of-16 (31 percent) coming from behind the arc. The Wolves were 12-of-22 (55 percent) from the charity stripe. WOU outrebounded HPU 34-33, with the Sharks suffering just nine turnovers to the Wolves 21.
After trailing by eight with 7:47 to play in the second quarter, the HPU defense held Western to just six more points in the quarter while going on a 16-6 to close the half and take a 36-34 lead into the locker room at the half.
In the third quarter, the Wolves hung close to the Sharks before freshman
Makaela Zeldenryk of Warragul, Australia/St. Paul's hit a second-chance jumper to start a 9-2 run and give HPU some breathing room. The Sharks closed the quarter up by a dozen at 59-47.
HPU secured the game in the fourth following a 9-2 run featuring a pair of Baum driving layups, and the defense held the Wolves to just six points in the last seven-and-a half minutes (scoreless in the final three) on the way to the 85-61 triumph.
HPU takes on host Saint Martin's on Saturday in a 10 a.m. HST (Noon PST) contest in the Saints official season opener.
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