Kiki Robertson's Hawaii homecoming was cut short by fouls Tuesday night, but the UAA point guard from Honolulu played enough minutes to make a difference in a 62-51 win for the women's basketball team.
Robertson scored a team-high 14 points and fueled a big run at the end of the second to help the seventh-ranked Seawolves beat Hawaii Pacific in Honolulu for their eighth straight win.
She also drew one of two technical fouls against UAA, which employed tough defense to remain undefeated despite foul trouble and a huge disparity at the free throw line.
"It was an interesting game," UAA coach Ryan McCarthy said, "but we got a win.
"In the second half they only made nine field goals but they scored 13 points from the line, and the fouls killed our momentum and took two of our best players out of the game.''
Robertson and Megan Mullings both fouled out and Robertson and coach Ryan McCarthy each were hit with technical fouls for the Seawolves, who were called for 30 fouls to Hawaii Pacific's 16.
The Sharks shot 30 free throws to UAA's 12, with 23 of their trips to the foul line coming in the second half. That helped the home team keep things close.
"This one definitely makes us more mentally tough," McCarthy said. "Obviously in this game a lot of things out of our control happened. I've coached in games where the team mentally collapses because they can't overcome adversities. Tonight our seniors, when bad things would happen, they would get everyone together and huddle and say 'This is our game.'
"So I was really pleased to see that."
Robertson fouled our early in the fourth quarter when she was whistled for a technical. She left with 14 points, two assists and two steals.
Three minutes later, the refs T'd McCarthy "for asking if they were serious about a call," McCarthy said.
UAA won behind superior rebounding and a defense that rattled the Sharks into 27 turnovers and a 34.1 percent shooting percentage.
UAA didn't shoot well either – 36.8 percent – but at least the Seawolves rebounded many of their missed shots. Each of UAA's 11 players had at least two rebounds to help the team earn a 43-32 advantage on the boards that included 18 offensive rebounds.
Buchanan had a team-high seven rebounds and Hannah Wandersee added six. Leading the way for Hawaii Pacific was Dimond High graduate Aminata Cole, who had a game-high nine boards.
Joining Robertson in double figures for the Seawolves were Mullings (12 points), Jenna Buchanan (11), Jessica Madison (10) and Keiahnna Engel (10).
Robertson scored five straight points to help UAA end the first half on an 11-0 run that gave it a 38-19 halftime lead. Although the Seawolves never trailed by single digits in the second half, Hawaii Pacific's free throws (19 of 30 for the game, 13 of 23 for the second half) prevented UAA from running away with it.
UAA has Wednesday off before traveling from Oahu to the Big Island for Thursday and Friday games against Hawaii-Hilo.