The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s season won’t end with a third trip in a row to the Pacific West Conference women’s basketball tournament.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo’s season won’t end with a third trip in a row to the Pacific West Conference women’s basketball tournament.
But it might just end with a winning streak.
The Vulcans routed Holy Names 61-42 on Thursday night at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, holding the Hawks to just 19 percent shooting to snap a three-game losing streak.
McKenzie Mangino finished with a double-double (11 points on 5 of 10 shooting and 14 rebounds) while Jordan Kealoha added 10 points on 3 of 4 shooting, and Hayley Reynolds had nine points on 4 of 8 shooting for UH-Hilo (9-14, 8-11 PacWest).
As bad as the Hawks (2-25, 1-18) were from the field, they actually improved in the second half.
Whitney Edens and Danielle Kooyman chipped in eight points each for UHH, which shot 43 percent (23 of 53) on field goals and led 37-12 at the half after Holy Names made only 2 of 26 during the first 20 minutes.
Garysha Youngblood scored eight points of 2 of 11 shooting to lead the Hawks, who have lost 19 straight.
UH-Hilo also dominated the boards (54-22). Kooyman grabbed seven rebounds.
The Vulcans raced out to 11-1 lead on Edens’ jumper with 13:46 remaining in the first half, and they went in front by 20 on Mangino’s jumper with 2:54 to go before the break.
The Vulcans’ largest lead win the second half was 29, and 15 players saw the court, with 10 scoring.
UH-Hilo finishes with Dominican on Saturday at Hilo Civic.
• UH Rainbow Wahine 47, Long Beach State 46: Destiny King hit a jump shot to give UH a 47-44 lead with 3:01 remaining on Thursday at Long Beach, Calif.
Then the 49ers missed a free throw, committed a turnover, clanked a layup and 3-pointer before Hallie Meneses got a layup for the Beach with 33 seconds to go.
Shawna-Lei Kuehu scored 16 points on 8 of 17 shooting and King finished with nine points to lead the Wahine (20-7, 12-2 Big West), who won their 12th straight game.
Meneses scored 19 points on 6 of 12 shooting, including 3 of 5 from the arc, to lead the Beach (20-7, 7-6).
The Wahine dominated the glass and outrebounded the Beach, 44-27, with 6-foot UH guard Ashleigh Karaitiana hauling in 13 rebounds.