HONOLULU – The Concord University women's basketball team led wire-to-wire as it defeated Hawaii Pacific, 60-47, Thursday afternoon in a non-conference game inside the Shark Tank.
Despite shooting under 40 percent for the game (39.3/22-for-56), Concord (7-3) clamped down on the Sharks (4-6) and limited the host to 26.2 percent (17-of-65) shooting.
The Mountain Lions jumped out to a 17-6 lead in the first quarter keyed by consecutive three pointers from junior guard
Ashton Funderburg, a triple from senior guard
Gracie Robinson and a three-point play to start the game by senior guard
Maggie Guynn.
CU saw its nine-point second quarter lead cut to four points, 28-24, but the Mountain Lions got a boost heading into halftime as junior guard
Jazz Blankenship's three-pointer from the right corner was ahead of the halftime buzzer, giving Concord a 35-27 advantage at the break.
Out of halftime, the Maroon and Gray held HPU to three third-quarter points as it built a lead as large as 16 points, 46-30, after Guynn scored five straight points. The lead shrunk to 12 points, 47-35, with 8:09 remaining, but the Hawaii Pacific spurt was answered by Concord outscoring the Sharks 12-2 over the next 4:35 of the game to build its biggest lead of the contest, 57-35.
The Sharks made a surge at the end, but could only get as close as the final margin of 13 points.
Fifth-year senior forward
Riley Fitzwater collected a double-double of 12 points, 13 rebounds to go with six blocks. Guynn netted 11 points while junior forward
Alexis Phillips came off the bench to match Guynn's point total. Blankenship just missed double figures with nine points.
The Mountain Lions held a decisive advantage on the glass, outrebounding Hawaii Pacific 51-37. Along with Fitwater's 13 boards, sophomore guard
Jaisah Smith plucked down a career-tying eight rebounds and Funderburg chipped in six boards along with her six points.
CU takes on fifth-ranked Alaska-Anchorage 12:00 p.m. Hawaiian Standard Time/5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Friday at McCabe Gym in Honolulu.
Â
