Despite a career-high of 34 points from Allie Navarette, the UH-Hilo women’s basketball team ran out of comebacks against Academy of Art.
The Urban Knights hit just enough free throws down the stretch to prevail over the Vulcans 74-64 on Friday night at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Navarette, who scored seven points, in the first half, knocked down 11 of 18 shots and made 12 of 13 free throws to finish with 34 points, including 27 points in the second half. She collected eight rebounds.
Jenna Waki added 10 points on 5 of 8 shooting, and Chyann Gabriel had eight points off the bench for the Vulcans (6-12, 5-9 PacWest), who shot 36 percent from the field, including just 2 of 14 from long distance.
Kim Schmelz, who averages 11.5 points per game, and Mandi Kawaha, who averages 10.4 ppg, finished with seven and three points, respectively for UHH.
“In the third quarter, we were better defensively,” UHH coach David Kaneshiro said. “But they hit some timely 3s, and (Lily) Perkins was good for them all night. In the first half, we were not sharp, and it was an uphill battle. We kept fighting and gave ourselves a chance but we couldn’t make enough plays.”
Chanel Stuart scored 20 points, Pam Wilmore 19, and Lilly Perkins had a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds for the Urban Knights (7-11, 5-9), who shot 41 percent from the floor, including 7 of 18 from 3-point range.
Stuart drained 5 of 7 from 3-point range, and Wilmore, who had a size advantage against UHH’s guards, relied on her quickness to glide to the rim and shot bankers off the glass.
The Vuls were able to get good entry passes to Navarette, who scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, her last two points on a pair of free throws, which cut AAU’s lead to 69-63 with 1:26 left.
Navarette used all of her post moves to get her career-high. For example in the third quarter, she caught the ball down low, dribbled left, cut back and scored with her right hand. She added two more baskets. Then she got the ball in the post, dropped stepped her defender and banked a shot off the glass to cut AAU’s lead to 68-61 with 1:37 left.
“Allie had a strong second half, and that was good to see,” Kaneshiro said. “That’s what you want to see, your upperclassmen stepping up. She played well on both ends of the floor.”
But the Vuls turned the ball over, and Perkins was fouled but hit 1 of 2 free throws for a 70-63 lead with 1:15 to go.
From there, the Vuls missed two 3-point attempts and had a turnover. Wilmore stuck a dagger in UHH with a pair of free throws for a 74-64 lead with 32.5 seconds remaining. The Urban Knights made 6 of 12 free throws with 1:26 left.
The Urban Knights took a 36-24 halftime lead, built on kickout 3-pointers and Perkins’ 10 points on post scoring.
The Vulcans had a productive third quarter. They tied it 41-41, only to see the Urban Knights close with an 11-5 run to take a 52-46 lead into the final 10 minutes.
In the third quarter, Navarette scored 10 points, including six in a row, the last two on a pair of free throws for a 39-39 tie.
Waki tied it a little later at 41-41 on a bank shot off the glass before AAU went on its scoring spree.
Perkins scored in the paint, and Stuart followed with a transition 3-pointer for a 46-41 lead with 2:22 left in the third period.
Schmelz followed with a 3-pointer, and Gabriel scored on a bank shot to cut the
UHH got nice production from its bench from Gabriel, who scored six points. Navarette, who averages 17 points per game, was limited to seven points on 1 of 6 shooting.
Whenever the Vuls funneled an entry pass to Navarette, she was immediately double or triple teamed. UHH couldn’t capitalize on that and shot just 1 of 7 from 3-point range in the first half.
Aari’yanna Sanders scored on a putback, drew a foul and hit her free throw to kick off the game.
Josselyn Morris followed with a kickout 3-pointer, and UHH got on the scoreboard when Malia Lee hit 1 of 2 free throws.
Perkins used a head-fake to get by Navarette for a layup an 8-1 lead.
From there, the Vuls kept chasing.
Schmelz drilled a 3-pointer to cut AAU’s lead to 27-18 with 5:41 left in the second quarter.
But the Urban Knights closed strong.
Perkins scored on a putback, Stuart followed with AAU’s fourth 3-pointer, and Perkins posted and scored over Navarette for a 36-24 lead with 20.2 seconds before halftime.