Box Score IRVINE, Calif. – The upset that nearly happened wasn't to be. 

Despite holding an early second half lead Azusa Pacific couldn't hold on down the stretch as Hawaii Pacific posted a 72-60 win during the second semifinal at the PacWest tournament.

The Cougars' first season as NCAA Division II members comes to an end with a 19-10 record.

Early in the contest the Sharks couldn't miss. After a three-point play by Morganne Comstock, the conference's Player of the Year, they had an 18-8 with 13:36 left until intermission. Despite that deficit the Cougars slowly but surely chipped away. A three-pointer by Kelly Hardeman capped the rally and erased that Sharks lead. Azusa Pacific was in front 34-32 with just over 90 seconds left in the stanza.

During the closing moments of the first half, Hawaii Pacific briefly retook the lead but a pair of free throws by Lauren Gilster with 30 seconds in half closed out the scoring. Azusa Pacific went into the locker room with a 36-35 lead. 

Strong all around play out of the gate in the second pushed the Cougars lead. During the first six minutes of the period, the Sharks connected on just one field goal attempt during a 9-2 Azusa Pacific scoring run to start the half. With Hawaii Pacific trailing, 45-37 the tournament's top seed proceeded to go on a run of their own. 

In the game's critical stretch, The Sharks took the lead for good as they scored 21 of the game's next 28 points. During that nearly eight minute stretch, Azusa Pacific went 2-for-11 from the field and committed three turnovers. Azusa Pacific found themselves on the short end of the scoreboard 58-52.

The closest the Cougars came in the contest's final minutes was when Kelly Hardeman hit a lay-up with 7:01 left to bring her team within 55-52. However, a win was not in the cards for the fourth-seeded squad as Hawaii Pacific pulled away for the win.

A rough second half of shooting helped doom the Cougars. After hitting a modest 38.9 percent of their field goals in the opening frame, Azusa Pacific connected on just eight of their 32 attempts (25 percent) to finish the game. 

Hardeman scored a team high 20 points to pace the Cougars efforts. The first-team all-conference selection went 8-for-19 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds to post her 16th double-double in the season's final game. Cydnie Jones also closed out her campaign her with 20-point, 10-rebound game. It is the junior's seventh double-double and second straight. Jones also doled out a team high five assists. 

The Sharks were led by Kylie Huerta's 20-point afternoon. Hawaii Pacific advances to the tournament finals where they will face second-seed California Baptist on Saturday.