HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Pacific University women's basketball team delivered a spirited second-half surge Thursday afternoon, rallying past Azusa Pacific for a 59–54 PacWest Conference victory on Senior Night.

The Sharks (9-16, 8-12 PacWest) outscored the Cougars 37–21 after halftime, including a dominant 19–10 fourth quarter, to erase an early deficit and secure the comeback win.

HPU leaned on a balanced offensive effort, led by Kyra Tanabe, who scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and added four steals to spark the defensive pressure. Mya Hatchett contributed 10 points, while Kyla Hopton added nine points and a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the free-throw line.

Azusa Pacific (18-8, 14-5 PacWest) built a 15–8 lead after the first quarter and maintained control into halftime, leading 33–22. The Sharks began to shift momentum in the third period behind improved defensive intensity and transition scoring, cutting into the deficit with an 18-point frame.

HPU's defensive pressure proved decisive down the stretch. The Sharks forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 18 points while also dominating the paint with a 32–20 scoring edge inside.

The Cougars were paced by Lauren Jones' game-high 17 points, and Keisharna Lucas' seven points and four steals, but HPU's depth made the difference. The Sharks received 22 bench points, outshining the Cougars 14.

After the game, the team honored seniors Kyra Tanabe, Tiana Holland, and Alana Roberts. 

HPU finishes off its season on the road, starting with Point Loma on the 26th and Concordia on the 28th. Both of those games can be streamed on the PacWest Network.