The University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s basketball team finished what it started this time.
Danielle Kooyman came up big late with 12 points and nine rebounds, McKenzie Mangino scored 15 points, and the Lady Vulcans used a strong inside game to beat St. Thomas Aquinas 66-58 at the Oahu Classic in Honolulu.
Hayley Reynolds added eight points as UH-Hilo (1-3) earned its first victory, avoiding the late-game lapses that it was plagued by in its first three games.
“We talked about playing with poise and sticking together,” coach David Kaneshiro said.
The victory gives the Vulcans a boost entering Pacific West Conference play. The Vulcans head back to Oahu on Thursday to face Chaminade.
Friday’s game was tied three times in the second half. Kirstie Williams hit a 3-pointer to give the Vulcans the lead for good with 8:31 remaining, and Kooyman made three baskets to help extend the advantage to six. She added a layup to put UH-Hilo in front 58-50.
Post players Kooyman (6 of 10), Mangino (5-10) and Reynolds (4-5) shot the ball well.
“We got the ball inside and McKenzie did a nice job,” Kaneshiro said. “(Kooyman) got some on putbacks and she also hit some mid-range jumpers.”
Alexa Jacobs scored eight points for the Vulcans, while CC Rode and Whitney Edens added seven. UH-Hilo shot 40 percent, but only 3 of 15 from 3-point range.
While his perimeter players struggled with their shooting, Kaneshiro credited point guards Jacobs and Jordan Kealoha with effectively handling the Spartans’ pressure.
“They went with a smaller lineup much of the game to speed us up and force turnovers,” Kaneshiro said.
The Vulcans committed only three of their 11 turnovers in the second half.
Kristen Olsen scored 19 points for St. Thomas Aquinas (2-3) of Sparkill, N.Y.
The Spartans, who beat Chaminade in overtime on Wednesday, turned the ball over 20 times and shot only 39.2 percent.
