Courtney Buster’s Late Free Three Lifts Sea Warriors

Honolulu, HI (12/15/10) – Courtney Buster sank a free throw with three seconds left to propel the HPU women’s basketball team to a 68-67 win over Charleston at the Hoop ‘N Surf Classic. HPU improves to 4-3 while UC falls to 5-4. The game was played at the Kilauea Rec Center.

Paris Gravely scored a game-high 19 points on 6-12 shooting for HPU, who won its third consecutive game. Mana Hopkins posted 14 points and nine rebounds and Buster added 11 points.

Lindsey Kentner led Charleston with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

HPU led 67-60 with 1:51 remaining before UC rallied to tie the game. Ali Tobias (14 pts, 4 reb) scored to bring Charleston level at 67-67 with 18 seconds remaining. With HPU holding for the last shot, Buster was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound with three seconds remaining. She missed the first free throw but hit on the second to give HPU the win.

Jazzmin Awa-Williams posted eight points and 13 rebounds and Taiyande Huskey added seven points and four steals.

The Sea Warriors retake the court tomorrow, December 16, versus Fayetteville State. Start time at the Kilauea Rec Center is set for 2:30 p.m.