HPU guard Haley Masaki drives the ball for in a home game for the Sharks | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i Pacific upset bid over #18 Azusa Pacific sputters in final minutes

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED JAN 23, 2024

HONOLULU — The Hawai’i Pacific University women’s basketball team’s upset try against PacWest-leader #18 Azusa Pacific (16-3, 10-0 PacWest) came up short Tuesday afternoon, falling inside the “Shark Tank” to the Cougars, 69-51. 

APU, who is unbeaten so far through 10 conference games, jumped out to a three-point lead through one quarter of play before HPU (5-10, 3-6 PacWest) exploded for 23 points in the second quarter to flip the script and give the Sharks the three-point advantage at the halftime break, 32-29. 

Azusa Pacific came out of the break scoring the first five points as guard Paige Uyehara and forward TyLee Manuel, who both saw foul trouble in the first half, both got on the board quickly to begin the second half and give a 34-32 lead to the visiting Cougars. HPU freshman Leslie Monica drained a triple on the following possession to put the Sharks back in front as the teams began to swap the lead through the middle of the third frame. 

Sharks’ superstar shot-blocker Megan Jones showed off her offensive game with a finish in transition that put HPU up, 39-38, with 5:18 left to play in the third quarter to regain the lead for the hometown team, the last time the Sharks would be in front. 

APU’s Uyehara drilled her second three-pointer of the quarter on the following possession to give snatch the lead right back, 41-39 to send the teams to the benches for the quarter’s media timeout. Azusa finished the frame on a 13-4 run to head into the fourth with a six-point lead. 

The Cougars upped the defensive pressure from there, outscoring Hawai’i Pacific 18-6 over the final 10 minutes to dispatch the Sharks, 69-51. 

All five starters finished in double-figures for the 18th-ranked Azusa Pacific Cougars, led by Manuel’s game-leading 16 points and five rebounds on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor. Despite the 18-point win, APU shot just 32.8% from the floor (23-of-70 FG) in the win but dominated on the offensive glass with 21 offensive rebounds. 

HPU was led by Megan Jones’ nine points and three rebounds while Kalina Obrey received “YeahU Player of the Game” honors for the Sharks for her six-point, eight-rebound outing, chipping in a pair of assists and a blocked shot and steal to round out her line. 

Hawai’i Pacific returns to action Thursday, January 25 inside the “Shark Tank” as they host .500 Point Loma.