HONOLULU- The Hawaii Pacific University women's basketball team concluded their two-game homestand Thursday afternoon, hosting the University of Hawai'i Hilo for a PacWest conference game in the Shark Tank. It took overtime, with HPU prevailing on top, 84-78, over UHH. 

The Sharks (2-3, 2-0 PacWest) have won back-to-back games to start conference play, while the Vulcans (3-3, 0-1 PacWest) will look to attempt to bounce back against Chaminade in a couple of days. 

Graduate Abby Spurgin knocked down a pair of free-throws to start the scoring for both teams. The first quarter saw no lead bigger than four points for either team, with the game tied at 14 a piece by the end of it. 

The Sharks heavily utilized Spurgin's scoring ability, as she put away 10 of HPU's 14 points. 

The second quarter played much like the first, with neither team being able to grab control of the game. HPU was leading 26-20 with less than four minutes to go, when the Vulcans found a 7-0 run to put them back up on top, 27-26. However, Hawaii Pacific turned it right back around, with a 6-0 run to close out the first half, capped off by a beautiful passing play from Spurgin to fellow graduate Keona Loftis. HPU went into halftime leading UHH 32-27.  

It was a rough start for HPU as UHH dominated for a 13-0 run in the first six minutes of the third quarter. Sophomore Jordyn Jensen broke the cold streak, sinking a three pointer off a pass from sophomore Allison Ross. The Sharks recollected themselves, closing out the third frame with a 5-0 run, bringing their deficit to two points, 57-55. 

The fourth quarter saw the roles reversed, as it was Hawaii Pacific who exploded for a 15-5 run, grabbing a 60-52 lead with five minutes remaining. The Vulcans, like the Sharks in the third, never gave up, keeping themselves within arms reach as the clock winded down. 

The game was knotted up at 64-64 with less than 40 seconds to go, when Spurgin converted an and-1. Without wasting any time, Vulcans player Mandi Kawaha, who was competing with Spurgin for most points in the contest, knocked down a three pointer to tie the game. Both teams had attempts to win in regulation, but neither shot fell through, as the fourth quarter buzzer sounded with a scoreline of 67-67. 

Senior Avery Cargill nailed a shot clock buzzer beater in the very first possession of extra time. Due to some fouled out players for the Vulcans, the Sharks had a distinct height advantage. They used it to perfection, feeding Spurgin and junior Kalina Obrey to easy buckets. With a 78-71 lead with less than a minute to go, all the Sharks had to do was convert on their charity stripe attempts. They would shoot 8-for-13 in overtime, closing the victory over Hawai'i Hilo 84-78. 

Spurgin finished with 35 points, being the first Sharks women's basketball player to score 35+ points in a game since fellow center Morganne Comstock did so back in 2015. Spurgin also completed a double-double, grabbing ten rebounds. 

Obrey earned herself her own double-double, with 14 points and a team-high 13 rebounds, meanwhile, Ross led the team in assists, dishing out five.

Defensively, it was Spurgin, Cargill, and Ross who worked together the swat away six total shots  

Hawaii Pacific's next game just happens to be against the University of Hawai'i Hilo, this time, as the visitors. The game will take place on Saturday, December 10, inside the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, with start time set for 5:00 p.m. HT