HONOLULU –  The No. 3/8 Hawai'i Pacific University women's basketball team scored the first 15 points of Tuesday evening's game with Chaminade on the way to extending their winning streak to 31 games with a wire-to-wire 98-38 PacWest Conference triumph at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (6-0, 5-0), ranked third in the D2SIDA Women's Poll and eighth in the WBCA Division II Poll, rolled to a 25-4 lead after the first quarter over the Silverswords (0-3, 0-3) and never saw the contest get closer.
 
HPU had three 20-point scorers and a total of five players in double-figures led by senior Olivia West of Launceton, Australia/Templestowe who double-doubled with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Avery Cargill of Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman came off the bench with 21 point that included five 3-pointers, and junior Ally Bates of Melbourne, Australia/Yarra Valley scored 20 points with eight rebounds. Senior Alysha Marcucci of Yarragon, Australia/Marist-Sion double-doubled with 12 points and 11 rebounds with three steals, while junior All-American Amy Baum of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary added a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists with six boards.
 
Chaminade was led by Emma Morris with 12 points to go with three rebounds. Jordyn Zader collected 11 points.
 
HPU shot an outstanding 52 percent from the field (35-of-67), including 18-of-34 3-point field goals (53 percent). The Sharks made 10-of-12 free throws (83 percent). Chaminade was held to just 22 percent from the floor (12-of-54), and 4-of-26 (15 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Swords hit 10-of-15 (67 percent) from the foul line. HPU crushed the Silverswords on the boards 49-25, and turned the ball over just nine times to CUH's 14.
 
After getting a scare on Sunday against Hawai'i Hilo, HPU put away Chaminade early. Baum hit a jumper from just outside the paint and buried a 3-pointer on the two of the first three possessions, then West followed with a fast break layup and it rolled from there. Cargill came in to make two free throws, then buried back-to-back 3-pointers and the Swords never knew what hit them down 15-0 with 2:57 remaining in the opening frame. HPU then outscored CUH 10-4 to close the quarter up 25-4.
 
The Sharks extended the second quarter, going up by 30 to stay at the 5:59 mark of the period on a West steal and layup. The Sharks led 48-13 at intermission.
 
HPU opened the lead to 40-plus in the third quarter, then expanded it again in the final period to the final 60-point margin of 98-38. All eight players HPU dressed played at least 15 minutes, with six playing 20 minutes or more.
 
The Sharks and Swords will be very familiar with each other over the next eight days, playing a total of four contests. The second of the four meetings is Friday evening at 4:30 p.m. at CUH's home, McCabe Gym.