Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University closed its southern California road trip on Saturday as Concordia Irvine defeated HPU 71-49 in PacWest Conference action at CU Arena.
 
The Sharks (4-12, 1-8) took an early advantage on the Eagles (11-6, 8-3) before CUI went on a 19-0 run and never trailed again. The victory was the fourth straight for the Eagles and avenged a loss in the PacWest opener to the Sharks in Honolulu in November.
 
HPU was led by junior Avery Cargill of Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman with 16 points. Junior Avery Cargill of Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman and sophomore Haley Masaki of Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama each added eight points. Junior Tavia Rowell of Langley, B.C./Walnut Grove grabbed seven rebounds to lead HPU.
 
The Eagles were paced by Michaela VanderKlugt with 23 points to go with seven boards. Jasmine Rachal added 16 points, while Samantha Fries contributed 10 points with a game-high eight rebounds.
 
The Sharks shot 36 percent from the floor (19-of-53), including 4-of-17 (24 percent) from the 3-point arc. HPU went 7-of-13 (54 percent) from the free throw line. The Eagles hit 30-of-60 (50 percent) from the field, including 8-of-24 (33 percent) from beyond the arc. CUI made 3-of-6 charity tosses (50 percent). The Eagles won the battle of the boards 35-28 and suffered only nine turnovers to the Sharks 12.
 
HPU got off on the right foot, with freshman Jordyn Jensen of Truckee, Calif./Bishop Manogue getting a layup for the lead. After a tying score from CUI, Rowell hit a jumper to give HPU a 4-2 lead two minutes into the game. But the Eagles answered with Sierra Clark's only basket that started the 19-0 run that buried the Sharks by 17 in the opening quarter.
 
HPU pulled within 12 in the second quarter on a 3-pointer from Cargill, only to have the Eagles collect another 7-1 run to erase the momentum and open up a 45-23 halftime lead.
 
The Eagles finished with the 71-49 final.
 
HPU returns to Honolulu for its next four contests, three of them at home. The Sharks host conference-leading and third ranked Azusa Pacific next Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. at The Shark Tank