HONOLULU – Hawai'i Pacific University jumped out to an early lead, but Biola made a strong second half comeback to beat HPU 72-65 in PacWest Conference action on Thursday at The Shark Tank. 
 
The Sharks (4-7, 1-3) grabbed the early lead with a 12-0 run to open the contest, but the Eagles (7-4, 3-2) came back with a 11-0 run to start the third quarter to take the lead and battled the Sharks down stretch. It was HPU's first contest since Dec. 16.
 
Junior Tava Rowell of Langley, B.C./Walnut Grove led the Sharks with 24 points, while junior Ella Berge of Stockholm, Sweden added 13 points. Graduate student Julia Razo of Woodland, Calif./St. Francis just missed a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds.
 
The Eagles were paced in the comeback by Stephanie Lee, who hit four 3-pointers on the way to 21 points to go with a team-high eight rebounds. Amiah Simmons added 19 points, while Natasa Radovic and Jordan Rabe each grabbed seven rebounds.
 
HPU, who shot 62 percent from the floor in the first half, ended the game hitting 38 percent (21-of-56), including 9-of-26 (35 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Shark connected on 14-of-21 (67 percent) from the foul line. Biola shot 38 percent from the floor (24-of-63), making 8-of-28 (29 percent) from the arc. The Eagles made 16-of-20 (80 percent) from the charity stripe. Biola outrebounded HPU 44-36 with 10 turnovers to the Sharks nine.
 
HPU got a 3-pointer from Razo on its first possession and started a 12-0 run capped by a Rowell 3 with 6:54 remaining in the quarter. But the Eagles responded after a timeout, cutting the lead to three only to have HPU stretch it back to 10 on a Berge jumper with six seconds remaining. The Eagles beat the buzzer to end the quarter on a Laila Walker 3-pointer for a 21-14 HPU lead.
 
The Sharks built their lead to 15 twice in the second quarter, the last time on a Berge 3-pointer with 2:25 to play to make it 43-28. But the Eagles closed the half on a 10-2 run as the Sharks led 45-38 at intermission.
 
The 6-0 run to end the second gave the Eagles a new life as Biola responded with an 11-0 run to start the third quarter, erasing the HPU lead and claiming a four-point 49-45 advantage with 3:41 to go in the quarter. Shark sophomore Haley Masaki of Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama responded with a 3-pointer and later Berge made a follow-up layup that put HPU up 52-51 at the end of the third.
 
The Eagles took control in the final frame, as Lee buried a 3 to start a 10-2 run and Biola never trailed again. The Eagles built an 11-point advantage before HPU closed late for the 72-65 final.
 
The Sharks aren't scheduled to play again until next week, on Thursday, Jan. 13, when HPU faces Dominican (Calif.) in PacWest Conference play. Tipoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. at The Shark Tank.