HONOLULU (Interstat) — Kamryn Griffin scored 29 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, and Saint Mary’s (Tex.) defeated Hawaii Pacific 58-51 in a women’s NCAA Division II game Sunday at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. The Rattlers moved to 1-1 this season, while the Sharks fell to 0-1.

Saint Mary’s (Tex.) built its advantage with a 20-point first quarter and a 15-point second quarter. Hawaii Pacific answered with 16 points in the second quarter and 20 in the third but could not fully close the gap. The Rattlers scored 17 points in the third quarter and six in the fourth. The Sharks scored 20 in the third and four in the fourth. Saint Mary’s (Tex.) shot 21 of 49 from the floor, 4 of 18 from three-point range and 12 of 19 from the free throw line. Hawaii Pacific shot 19 of 56 overall, 4 of 24 from beyond the arc and 9 of 13 at the line. Both teams collected eight offensive rebounds. Hawaii Pacific recorded seven assists and committed 13 turnovers, while Saint Mary’s (Tex.) committed 16 turnovers.

Griffin’s effort led all scorers and rebounders. Raynne Malik added 8 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block for Saint Mary’s (Tex.). Lucia Ricci recorded 10 points, five rebounds and three assists for Hawaii Pacific. Kyla Hopton added 10 points, three rebounds and one assist, and Jalen Samuel finished with 15 points, two rebounds and one assist.

Elizabeth Griffin contributed 12 points and two rebounds for Saint Mary’s (Tex.). Joana Arumi had six points, three rebounds and two assists. Mya Hatchett finished with six points, two rebounds and two assists for Hawaii Pacific. KalysaMarie Ng had two points and three rebounds, and Cori Wilcox added two points, four rebounds and one block.

The Sharks stayed within reach in the second half. Kyla Hopton’s layup cut the deficit to 46-39 with 3:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Saint Mary’s (Tex.) answered when Kamryn Griffin made a layup at the 2:37 mark, and after Jalen Samuel scored for Hawaii Pacific, Griffin added another layup with 1:58 left. Joana Arumi made free throws in the final minute, and Elizabeth Griffin converted two free throws with 56.1 seconds remaining to help keep the Rattlers ahead.

Hawaii Pacific continued to push. Lucia Ricci made a 3-pointer with 1:17 left to bring the Sharks within 52-46. Elizabeth Griffin answered with two free throws, and Mya Hatchett made a layup with 49.1 seconds remaining to make it 54-48. Joana Arumi made two free throws with 28.5 seconds left, and Jalen Samuel hit a 3-pointer with 23.8 seconds remaining to trim the margin to 56-51. Kamryn Griffin sealed the result with a jump shot with 19.6 seconds left.

Earlier, Hawaii Pacific opened the scoring on Cori Wilcox’s hook shot with 8:36 remaining in the first quarter. Lucia Ricci added a layup, but Saint Mary’s (Tex.) responded with consecutive layups from Kamryn Griffin and one from Joana Arumi to move ahead. In the second quarter, Elizabeth Griffin hit a 3-pointer, Brianna Vargas added another 3-pointer, and Raynne Malik converted a three-point play as the Rattlers took a 35-27 lead into halftime.

Hawaii Pacific used a stronger third quarter to stay close. Hopton made a jump shot, Jalen Samuel converted layups, and Kaile Cruz scored twice as the Sharks chipped away. Kamryn Griffin kept Saint Mary’s (Tex.) in front with a series of layups and free throws, and Raynne Malik and Elizabeth Griffin added key baskets in the fourth quarter.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Saint Mary’s (Tex.) 59, Hawaii Pacific 57. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Saint Mary’s (Tex.) with a 60.1 percent probability to win.