HONOLULU –  The No. 2/7 Hawai'i Pacific University women allowed Chaminade a brief lead in the first four minutes of Wednesday evening's game before going on a 20-1 run in the last five-and-a half minutes of the period on the way to a 95-37 PacWest Conference victory at The Shark Tank.
 
The Sharks (9-0, 8-0) extended their winning streak to 34 games, while the Silverswords (0-6, 0-6) have now lost 16 straight dating back to last season.
 
HPU, ranked second in the D2SIDA poll and seventh in the WBCA poll, allowed CUH a three-point lead at 5-2 before exchanging the lead a few times. The game was tied at 9-all when junior All-American Amy Baum got a layup to start a 20-1 run in the final 5:22 of the quarter to put to rest any question of the outcome.
 
The Sharks were paced by the play of junior Ally Bates of Melbourne, Australia/Yarra Valley, who double-doubled with 27 points and 12 rebounds to go with two blocked shots. Senior Alysha Marcucci of Yarragon, Australia/Marist-Sion, contributed 21 points with seven rebounds, with senior Olivia West of Launceton, Australia/Templestowe posting 13 points. Baum, of Melbourne, Australia/Rowville Secondary, posted a double-double of 12 points and career-high 15 assists, to go with seven rebounds and five steals. Senior Makenna Gambee of Hillsboro, Ore./Hillsboro also scored 12 points with a block.
 
The Swords got 14 points from Jordyn Zader and eight points from Arianna Blowe, while Michaella Dean grabbed seven rebounds.
 
HPU shot 55 percent from the floor (37-of-67), including 11-of-25 3-point field goals (44 percent). The Sharks made 10-of-15 free throws (67 percent). Chaminade was held to 31 percent from the field (13-of-42), but only 1-of-14 (7.1 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Swords hit 10-of-14 (71 percent) from the foul line. HPU crushed the Silverswords on the boards 38-26, and turned the ball over 11 times to CUH's 27.
 
The Sharks never led by less than double-digits after pushing the lead out and built a 29-point 48-19 advantage at halftime thanks to a Bates buzzer-beating 3-pointer to end the half.
 
HPU led 72-29 after three quarters, and pushed the advantage to the 95-37 final.
 
The No. 2/7 Sharks are off until next week when they return to the Big Island to face Hawai'i Hilo. Tipoff at Vulcan Gym is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by another contest Thursday at noon.