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Utah Tech University Athletics

Liana
Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics

Women's Basketball Jeff Cluff, Coordinator of Media Relations

Liana and Thomas Lead Red Storm to 59-51 win over Hilo

Box Score

HILO, Hawaii -- Freshman Forward Kirsten Marie Liana (Honolulu, HI/Farrington) scored a carrer high 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds off the bench to lead Dixie State women's basketball to a 59-51 win over Hawaii Hilo at UHH Gymnasium.

Making her first trip back to the islands, she capitalized by going 7-8 from the free throw line and 4-9 from the field. Her performance was just one rebound shy of her second double-double of the season and led DSC to it's third consecutive win.

The Red Storm (12-5, 7-2 PWC) used a spark from junior guard Erica Hayes (East Palo Alto, CA/Menlo-Atherton) midway thru the second half to breakaway from the Vulcans (8-10, 5-5 PWC). DSC had a one point lead and went on a 9-0 run and never looked back.

DSC held the Vulcans to 25.9 percent shooting from the floor and connected just 2-10 shooting from three point range. Hilo played without leading scorer Hillary Hurley, who suffered a knee injury in the win over Cal Baptist. Kirsten Shimizu lead the Vulcans with 14 points and Kirsty Imai added 13 points.

Coach Angie Kristensen said, "I thought tonight we won the game with a great defensive effort. As a team we got after it and controlled that end of the floor."

The Red Storm didn't fair much better, connecting on a dismal 2-15 (13.3 percent) from three point range. From the field DSC shot 38 percent, just below their season average of 40 percent.

"Our bigs dominated the game. Kirsten and Becca were outstanding and they (UHH) couldn't stop them in the paint," continued Coach Kristensen.

Junior center Becca Thomas (Riverside, CA/Redwood) went 6-8 from the field for 14 points and tallied five rebounds in the win. DSC won the rebounding battle 44-42, with senior forward Shanae Vaifanua (Hurricane, UT/Hurricane) grabbing eight defensive boards.

Kristensen concluded, "It was an important for us to win the first one on this road trip and set the tone for the trip."

The Red Storm will have tomorrow off and take the short flight from the Big Island to Oahu and will prepare for Wednesday's game against Chaminade. Tip off is slated for 8:00 p.m. Mountain time.




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