HILO, Hawaii -- The Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Hawaii gave North Park women's basketball the energy they needed, defeating Loras 66-44. The Vikings allowed single digit turnovers for the majority of the contest while three players turned in double-digit scoring totals.
The game opened with both teams trading baskets, tied twice in the first quarter. Loras briefly held a 2-0 lead after Claire Wagner's layup, but North Park responded quickly. Senior guard Kathryn Keehn's fast-break layup and junior forward Caroline Long's free throws sparked a 6-0 run midway through the first period, giving North Park control. By the end of the quarter, North Park led 17-13, fueled by aggressive paint scoring (10 points inside) and seven fast-break points.
The second quarter was where North Park began to pull away. Keehn drilled 2 three-pointers early, and Long added a jumper to push the lead to nine. Loras struggled offensively, shooting just 20% from the field in the second quarter, while North Park capitalized on turnovers. A 6-0 burst capped by junior guard Aliyah Hershberger's free throw at 6:22 extended the lead to double digits. At halftime, North Park led 30-21, thanks to 32% shooting from deep and a 14-10 edge in paint points.
Loras mounted its best push in the third quarter, hitting three triples and outscoring North Park 19-17. Amelia Lavorato and Lexi Sabado combined for two key threes during a 6-0 run, trimming the deficit to just four (42-38) with less than three minutes to go. But North Park answered immediately after a timeout to break the Duhawks' momentum: Hershberger's jumper and Long's layup restored a seven-point cushion, and junior guard Teresa Morrissey's three-pointer pushed the lead back to double digits entering the fourth (47-40).
The final frame was all North Park. The Vikings unleashed a 12-0 run three minutes in, highlighted by Long's layup and free throws, Kaskavitch's jumper, and Hershberger's dagger three. Loras managed only one field goal in the quarter, shooting 1-for-10, while North Park closed the game on a 19-4 surge. The Vikings dominated the paint (32 points overall) and converted 15-of-20 free throws, sealing their largest lead of 22 points in the final seconds.
Top Performers
North Park
Loras
- Claire Wagner – 14 points, 11 rebounds
- Ashtyn Kelderman – 11 points, 5-of-11 FG
- Amelia Lavorato – 6 points, perfect 2-of-2 from deep
What's Next?
North Park (2-7) has one more game in Hawaii, facing Blackburn College (1-8) on Wednesday, December 17. Tipoff inside The Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium is set for 1:00 PM HT.
