Women’s basketball: UHH’s upset big thwarted by Concordia

UHH photo Allie Navarette's 27 points weren't enough Thursday night.
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Allie Navarette scored 27 points, but it wasn’t enough in the UH-Hilo women’s basketball team’s upset bid against Concordia.

The Eagles rallied to beat the Vulcans 84-74 on Thursday at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium, winning their fourth straight to remain in second place in the PacWest.

Jasmine Rachal scored a career-high 33 points, and Michaela VanderKlugt added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Eagles (10-5, 8-2 PacWest), who shot 43 percent from the field, including 5 of 19 from beyond the arc.

Rachal, a 5-foot-7 sophomore guard, made 9 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and hit 12 of 15 free throws.

VanderKlught, a 6-1 junior center, hit 5 of 17 shots.

Kim Schmelz added 14 points off the bench, and Mandi Kawaha had 13 points for the Vulcans (5-11, 4-8), who dropped their third straight and shot 49 percent from the floor, including 5 of 11 from 3-point range.

Navarette converted 6 of 10 shots, Schemlz went 6 of 11, and Kawaha buried 5 of 11 from the field.

Last month, Concordia crushed UHH 72-42 in Irvine, Calif.

The Vulcans led 42-40 at halftime, shooting 56 percent and going 10 of 10 from the free throw line.

Navarette scored 14 points in the first half, and UHH committed just three turnovers.

In the third quarter, there were five lead changes before the Eagles used a 10-2 to take a 61-55 lead heading into the fourth period.

The Vulcans cut that margin to three points on three occasions, but Concordia answered each time. The Eagles hit 37 of 46 free throws, and the final score was their largest lead of the night.

UHH hit 21 of 24 free throws, and Navarette sank 13 of 14 from the charity strip.

The Vuls next host Holy Names at 5 p.m. Monday at the Civic.