Three games in to the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s season a disturbing trend has emerged: the inability to finish games.
The Lady Vulcans made just one field goal Thursday during the final eight minutes of a 61-41 loss to Montana State-Billings at the Oahu Classic in Honolulu.
Alexa Jacobs (nine points) hit a 3-pointer to tie the score at 35-all with 9:15 remaining in the game. Then things began to snowball on the Lady Vulcans (0-3).
“We had a few bad possessions and they converted down the stretch,” coach David Kaneshiro said. “When we got decent shots, we just couldn’t make anything.”
Kaneshiro saw a similar circumstance unfold last Saturday on Oahu in a loss to Minnesota-Crookston in which UH-Hilo led with less than three minutes remaining but lost by five.
“We have been able to find answers and find a way to keep our poise and stay control,” Kaneshiro said.
Hayley Reynolds scored eight points and CC Rode added six before each fouled out for the Vulcans, who made just 6 of 31 on field-goal attempts in the second half and shot only 23.8 percent overall.
“Offensively we’re just not in sync,” Kaneshiro said.
Kayleen Goggins finished with a game-high 22 points for the Yellowjackets (4-2). Billings wasn’t much better from the floor at 34 percent, but it was 22 of 26 from the free-throw line. Alisha Breen got all 12 of her points on perfect shooting from the line.
The Vulcans play St. Thomas Aquinas at 3 p.m. Friday.
Montana State-Billings 22 39 — 61
UH-Hilo 21 20 — 41