HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University closed first semester action on Thursday afternoon as they lost to Concord (W.Va.) 60-47 in the Malika Sports Tours Oahu Christmas Classic at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (4-6) stayed close with the Mountain Lions (7-3) through the first half, but a strong on third quarter led Concord to the victory.
 
Freshman Allison Ross of Boise, Idaho/Boise nailed four 3-pointers to lead the Sharks with a game-high 16 points. Junior Avery Cargill of Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Jordyn Jensen of Truckee, Calif./Bishop Manogue tallied six points with seven rebounds.
 
Concord got a double-double from Riley Fitzwater with 12 points and 13 rebounds and added six blocked shots. Maggie Guynn and Alexis Phillips each collected 11 points, while Jaisah Smith tallied eight rebounds.
 
HPU hit 17-of-65 from the field (26 percent), but 8-of-23 (35 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks made 5-of-6 free throws (83 percent). Concord shot 39 percent from the floor (22-of-56), including 7-of-21 (33 percent) from the arc. The Mountain Lions went 9-of-21 (43 percent) from the charity stripe. CU dominated the boards 51-37, but HPU turned the ball over 15 times to CU's 20.
 
The Mountain Lions opened with the lead, but the Sharks tied it up on a pair of Jensen field goals. But Concord responded with a 10-0 run and never trailed again.
 
HPU cut the deficit to three with 1:12 to play on a Cargill 3-pointer, but Concord responded with field goal and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to claim an eight-point 35-27 lead at the half.
 
The Sharks saw the Mountain Lions used an 11-0 run in the third to take a commanding lead. HPU responded with Ross hitting two treys and adding a driving layup as part of a 10-0 run as Concord finished with the 60-47 win.
 
The Sharks take time off for the holidays before returning to action on Dec. 30 when they reopen PacWest Conference play by hosting Hawai'i Hilo in a 4:30 p.m. contest at The Shark Tank.