HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University opened PacWest Conference play with a win on Monday night, defeating Concordia Irvine 69-64 at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (4-2) used a 14-4 run to break a late third quarter tie and hold a 10-point fourth quarter lead over the Eagles (3-3, 0-1) and held to pick up their 37th consecutive PacWest win.
 
All-American senior Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary led the Sharks with another near triple-double with 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Junior Tavia Rowell from Langley, British Columbia, Canada/Walnut Grove tallied 20 points with six boards, hitting 4-of-9 from the 3-point arc.
 
CUI was paced by Jasmine Rachel who hit 5-of-11 from the 3-point arc on the way to 27 points. Katie Timmermann chipped in 13 points, while Savannah Felix-Amoroso and Michaela VanderKlugt both just missed double-doubles. Felix-Amoroso had 10 points with nine rebounds and VanderKlugt 11 points and eight boards.
 
HPU shot 47 percent from the field (29-of-62), including 6-of-20 (30 percent) from 3. The Sharks hit 5-of-8 (63 percent) from the foul line. CUI made 38 percent (24-of-64) from the floor, but 9-of-32 (28 percent) from the arc. The Eagles made 7-of-11 (64 percent) from the charity stripe.
 
The Eagles opened the contest by taking an early four-point lead only to have the Sharks use a 7-0 run to take the lead on a Baum short jumper just outside the lane. The Sharks extended the lead to four at 15-11 after the first.
 
HPU held five-point leads three times in the second quarter, but the Eagles answered each time. HPU got a Baum free throw in the final minute of the half for a 30-27 advantage.
 
The Eagles overcame a six-point deficit in the third quarter to retake the lead at 45-44 on a 3-pointer from Rachal. That's when Rowell nailed a fast-break 3 and Timmerman answered with a jumper in the paint to tie the score at 47-all.
 
But it was the next possession that set the table for the Sharks. Freshman Devin O'Brien of Chandler, Ariz./Basha got a rebound and put-back to give HPU the 49-47 lead they would have at the quarter break, take the lead for good and start the 14-4 run to put the Sharks in the driver's seat.
 
The Sharks extended the lead to 10 on a Rowell 3-pointer. The Eagles fought back as the teams, with HPU answering and retake the 10-point advantage with 1:55 on another Rowell triple. That's when the Sharks had to hold on as the Eagles cut the lead to five on a Rachel 3 in the final minute, but HPU traded points down the stretch to claim the 69-64 win.
 
The Sharks continue their homestand with another PacWest Conference contest on Thursday. HPU hosts Point Loma in a 4:30 p.m. contest at The Shark Tank.