The UH-Hilo women’s basketball team played with the type of defensive intensity that bothered Holy Names all night.
The Vulcans held the Hawks to 34 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers in a 72-56 win on Monday night at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, to snap a three-game losing streak.
Allie Navarette was an inside and outside scoring force with 21 points, hitting a pair of 3-pointers, sinking inside shots and grabbing 19 rebounds to lead the Vulcans (3-3, 1-3 PacWest), who shot 43 percent.
Mandi Kawaha dribbled away from defenders, often created her own shot and added 13 points to go along with five assists. Alyssa Movchan also had 13 points on 3 of 4 shooting from beyond the arc.
Taylor Krouse spotted up and scored 14 points while Onjalise Carley-Hillard had 12 points for the Hawks (1-10, 1-5), who had difficulty stopping the Vuls from dribbling, penetrating the paint and firing a clean look.
“Our defensive effort and energy were much better,” UHH coach David Kaneshiro said. “That was something we emphasized this week, and it was good to see.
“Offensively, we had some droughts but we remained organized and patient. It was a good team effort. Everybody stepped up on both sides of the ball.”
In the first half, the Vulcans shot 50 percent, hitting 6 of 12 from beyond the arc, to grab a 37-26 halftime lead that was also built on tough post defense.
UHH put a lid on Carley-Hillard, who came in averaging 15.6 points per game, and held her to just six points in the first half. Navarette and her fellow post defenders moved their feet and shut down any shooting lanes.
The Vuls stepped up with their transition defense. They hustled back on defense and didn’t allow any transition layups.
In the third quarter, the Vuls took the Hawks off the dribble and dropped in easy layups. Movchan sank one and Navarette followed with another.
Then Navarette and Movchan attacked the rim, drew fouls and sank their free throws as part of an 8-2 run for a 45-38 cushion with 7:48 left.
The Hawks started to chip away at UHH’s lead, getting within 46-35 with under four minutes to go in the third period.
But Sara Shimizu drained a 3-pointer to spark the Vuls, who closed with a nine-point run to enter the fourth quarter ahead 58-37.
In the fourth period, Makamae Gabriel scored a layup in transition for a 69-51 cushion, exposing one of the Hawks’ flaws. If it were football, it would be called a blown coverage. It was worth two points and contributed to a much-needed win.
