HILO, Hawai'i— Junior guard Savanna Hanson scored a game-high 23 points to lead Azusa Pacific to its ninth Pacific West Conference road win with a 77-62 victory over Hawaii Hilo Friday night.
A strong performance from the start of the game helped put the Cougars back into the win column and solidified its hold on the conference lead after suffering its first conference defeat to Hawai'i Pacific two nights earlier. With the win, Azusa Pacific improved to 18-4 overall and 15-1 in PacWest play.
Hanson scored 15 of her 23 points in the first half, and she tied her season scoring high by going 8-for-15 from the field with eight rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Three others scored in double figures, with Daylee Hanson scoring 17 points while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Laura Pranger added 13 points and eight rebounds, and freshman guard Lydia Nieto scored 12 points with three assists.
Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 30-12 lead after the opening quarter, and the lead grew to 20 points in the second quarter before settling back to the 18-point margin at halftime with a 46-28 lead. Hawai'i Hilo pulled within 12 points midway through the third quarter, cutting the lead to 51-39, but the Cougars responded with 10 straight points to take their largest lead of the game, 61-39, with 2:14 left in the third.
The Vulcans' final challenge cut the lead down to 12 again, 72-60, with 4:22 remaining in the game, but Azusa Pacific did not allow a field goal the rest of the way while pulling away for the 77-62 win.
Early in the game, Hawai'i Hilo took its only lead at 6-4 just over two minutes into the game. The Cougars answered by outscoring the Vulcans 26-6 over the rest of the quarter, including a 12-1 sprint over the final two minutes of the period sparked by eight points from Savanna Hanson.
Azusa Pacific shot 38 percent (24-for-64) from the floor in the game, including a blistering 61 percent (11-for-18) clip in the first quarter to gain early separation. The Cougar defense held Hawai'i Hilo to 32 percent (19-for-60) shooting and forced 20 Vulcan turnovers.
Hawai'i Hilo was led by Allie Navarette's team-high 16 points, and Taylor Patience added 13 points for the Vulcans.
Azusa Pacific is back in action for its fourth consecutive road game on Saturday, Feb. 9 at Fresno Pacific before returning home to the Felix Event Center on Saturday, Feb. 16, for the mainland rematch against Hawai'i Pacific.
