FULLERTON – Senior Amira Austin posted a 23-point, 14-rebound double-double as Hope International coasted to a 77-60 victory over Cal Maritime on the final day of the HIU Holiday Classic on Thursday from Darling Pavilion.
Austin notched her third 20-point game of the season, hitting 8 of 15 from the field to go along with three steals. Her 14 rebounds represented a career-high. She has three double-doubles this season. The forward also has collected double-digit caroms in four straight games.
Natalie Acuna contributed 15 points and eight rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench, adding a blocked shot and two steals. Guard Nicole Chuang hit four three-pointers for the second straight game and finished with 12 points.
Angelina De Leon grabbed a game-high nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Making her season debut, Jordan Arreola scored three points and added a steal.
The Royals shot 40.3 (27 of 67) percent overall and outrebounded the Keelhaulers 52-27.
HIU led 25-14 after one quarter and put the game out of reach after holding the Keelhaulers to four points in the second period, taking a 41-18 lead into the halftime break.
Leading 7-6, the Royals utilized a 14-2 run to open up a 21-8 cushion with 1:36 to go in the first period. The Royals bombarded Cal Maritime with three straight triples from Aliyah Gonzalez, Chuang and Acuna. Austin scored the final nine HIU points and she finished the first quarter with 11.
HIU held the Keelhaulers to 2 of 15 shooting in the second quarter, including 0 of 8 from distance. Jada Long's three with 41 seconds remaining gave HIU its biggest lead, 41-18, right before halftime.
The two teams each scored 15 points in the third quarter, and Cal Maritime outscored the Royals 27-21 in the fourth. Chuang went 3 for 3 from three-point range in the third, and Acuna dropped 10 points on the Keelhaulers in the fourth.
Four Cal Maritime players scored in double figures, led by Aysia Santos and Suraya Lloyd with 13 points apiece.
The Royals are off until Monday, December 29 when they travel to NCAA Division I Long Beach State for a 6:00 p.m. exhibition at the Walter Pyramid.
