KANEOHE, Hawaii – The Black Hills State women's basketball team (2-3, 0-0 RMAC) traveled to Hawaii to compete in the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic where they faced off against Hawaii Pacific University (3-1, 0-0 PACWEST) Wednesday night.
 
The Yellow Jackets fell to the Sharks 68-55 in their opening game of the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic.
 
Leading the Yellow Jackets offensively and defensively was junior Megan Engesser. Engesser recorded a double-double on the night after recording 25 points and 10 boards, 3 offensive and 7 defensive.
 
HPU struck first to open the game recording a lay-up before the nine-minute mark. From that point the Yellow Jackets went on an eight-point run to go up 8-2 with just over six minutes to play. The Yellow Jackets would carry that lead into the half up four at the end of the first quarter, 11-7.
 
The Yellow Jackets and Sharks traded layups to open scoring in the second quarter. HPU would use a layup and a 3 pointer to take their first lead since the opening minutes of the game taking a 14-13 lead over the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets and Sharks stayed evenly matched through the rest of the quarter with HPU scoring 11 points and BHSU recording 10. The Sharks would take a 25-23 lead into the break.
 
The Sharks came out of the half hot going on a 15-4 run extending their lead to 40-27. The Sharks did not give up that lead through the third quarter as they went on to finish out the third quarter with an 18-point lead at 54-36.
 
The Yellow Jackets had fight in the fourth quarter going on a 12-0 run to cut the Sharks' lead to 6 at 54-48. HPU would go on to outscore the Yellow Jackets 14-7 to round out the fourth quarter setting up the final score of 68-55.
 
As a team the Yellow Jackets shot 27.1% from the field, making 16 of a season high 59 shots, and 28.6%, making 10 of 35 shots from beyond the arc.
 
At the charity stripe BHSU had a 59.1 shooting percentage after making 13 of 22 free throws.
 
Up Next
The Yellow Jackets wrap up non-conference play Friday in Hawaii against Walsh University at 5:00 p.m.