FRESNO, Calif. – Hawai'i Pacific University went ice cold in the third quarter that gave Fresno Pacific the opportunity to come back to beat HPU 76-72 in PacWest Conference action on Tuesday night at the FPU Special Events Center.
 
The Sharks (8-18, 5-14) shot just nine percent in the third period as the Sunbirds (8-13, 5-11) overcame a 13-point second quarter deficit to avenge a three-point loss at HPU on Feb. 13.
 
The Sharks got 24 points from junior Tavia Rowell of Langley, B.C./Walnut Grove, while graduate student Julia Razo of Woodland, Calif./St. Francis posted 20 points. Junior Avery Cargill from Santa Rosa, Calif./Cardinal Newman added 11 points.
 
Maesyn Rix paced the Sunbirds with a double-double of 18 points and 15 rebounds. Sara Lundqvist added 15 points, Anisa Rillo 13 points, Felicia Dourva and Breanna Hurt each chipped in 11 points.
 
HPU, who shot 53 percent from the floor in the first half, finished the game shooting 42 percent (25-of-60), including 10-of-23 (44 percent) from the 3-point arc. The Sharks were 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the free throw line. FPU shot just 37 percent from the field (26-of-70), with 3-of-17 (18 percent) from behind the arc. But the Sunbirds hit 21-of-23 shots (91 percent) from the charity stripe. Fresno Pacific outrebounded HPU 52-28, but suffered 11 turnovers to the Sharks nine.
 
HPU led nearly the entire first half, jumping out to a 6-0 lead on 3-pointers from Razo and Rowell. Even with FPU sliding ahead during the period, the Sharks countered with an 9-3 run to end the first quarter with a 22-17 lead thanks to a floating jumper from sophomore Haley Maskaki of Honolulu/Kamehameha-Kapalama just before the horn.
 
The Sharks strung together another 8-3 run to start the second quarter to reach a double-digit lead, then expanded it 13 when Rowell buried a 3-pointer with 5:24 to play in the half. FPU chipped away at the advantage, but a Cargill free throw just before intermission gave HPU a 42-33 lead at the half.
 
The third quarter was nothing short of a disaster for the Sharks. HPU made just 1-of-11 field goal attempts, a triple from Rowell about three minutes in, to go with 4-of-6 free throws for seven points in the quarter. Meanwhile, the Sunbirds made up the nine-point deficit and then some. Thanks to an 11-0 run at the end of the third quarter and first 20 seconds of the fourth, FPU built a seven-point 56-49 lead.
 
The Sharks did come back as Rowell short jumper, a Masaki triple and a Razo layup tied the game with 7:55 left. The teams swapped scores as FPU opened a five-point 65-60 lead midway through the quarter when HPU responded. Razo got an old fashioned layup-free throw 3-point play and Rowell made two more foul shots to knot the game at 65. Lundqvist answered with two free throws, then it was Razo who came back with a foul shot and another layup-free throw 3-point play to put HPU up 69-67 with 1:21 to go.
 
In the final minute, Rix got a second chance tip-in to tie, then the Sharks missed a shot and were forced to foul. FPU hit four straight free throws to claim a 73-69 lead. Cargill quickly responded with a 3-pointer to pull HPU within one at 73-72 with 20 seconds to play. But FPU made 3-of-4 free throws in the final 20 seconds to ice the game 76-72.
 
The Sharks close an eight games in 12 days stretch with the loss and return home for their final regular season game against Chaminade on Sunday afternoon. The contest that could determine a PacWest Conference Tournament berth is set for 1 p.m. The contest is Senior Day and Homecoming at HPU.