Allie Navarette had a game-high 25 points, and her UH-Hilo women’s basketball teammates provided much-needed scoring help in their first game to start the New Year.
But it was the little things that helped the Vulcans topple Fresno Pacific 63-51 on Thursday night at Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium, snapping a seven-game losing streak.
Mandi Kawaha and Kim Schmelz each added 13 points for the Vulcans (2-7, 1-4 PacWest), who shot 18 of 23 from the free throw line.
UHH was able to put a collar on Cassie Pisik, who averages 18 points per game and was held to nine points. Bayli McClard scored 12 points to lead the Sunbirds (5-6, 3-3), who made 11 of 15 free throws. Pisik played just 28 minutes with a plastic facemask.
“I’m really proud of the team. It’s a good solid win,” UHH coach David Kaneshiro said. “We kept them in front of us. They’re one of the better teams at driving the ball. We executed and got the ball in good spots.”
Neither team shot well from the field. The Vuls converted 36 percent while the Sunbirds made 30 percent.
UHH won despite 15 turnovers. Fresno Pacific had 12 giveaways.
Kawaha and Mikayla Tablit, both under 5 feet 6, grabbed eight rebounds each, and 5-2 guard Sarah Shimizu had seven boards to compensate for Navarette, who managed just six rebounds.
“We had a couple of good hustle plays in the end,” Kaneshiro said. “Sarah and Kim dived for loose balls, and it’s good when your two guards grab rebounds. The team is working hard, and we’re improving.”
In the fourth period, the Vuls went to the free throw line 10 straight times, hitting 9 of 10. Navarette, who made 9 of 11 free throws, hit 7 of 8 during that stretch, including two on a technical on Sunbirds coach Tim Beauregard.
After UHH’s free throw barrage, Schmelz buried a 3-pointer for a 57-47 cushion with 5:06 remaining.
In the first half, Navarette carried much of the scoring load with 11 points on 5 of 7 shooting, and the Vulcans held Pisik to five points to carry a 27-26 lead into the break.
The Sunbirds jumped to a 6-0 lead on a pair of three-point plays. Ashley Cross and McClard each scored, drew a foul and hit their free throw.
Navarette followed with consecutive left-handed layups. Then Kawaha followed with another layup.
The Vulcans got a nice boost fro their bench in the first half with nine points, including seven from Schmelz, who who hit a corner 3-pointer for a 14-13 lead wit 1:18 left until halftime. Schmelz went 3 of 5 from 3-point range.
The Sunbirds, who were bothered by the Vuls’ persistent perimeter defense, went 0 for 9 from beyond the arc in the first half while UHH made 2 of 5.
The Vulcans next host Point Loma (9-2, 5-0) at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Civic.
