IRVINE, Calif. - After winning two of their previous three games on the road, the Eagles returned home on Saturday night, taking on the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans at CU Arena.

The first quarter was an offensive struggle for each team.  The Eagles shot just 38.5 percent from the floor in the first, but held the Vulcans to 28.6 percent.  Riley Friauf got off to a hot start on the offensive end, scoring a team high six points in the quarter, but she didn't receive much help.  Both teams struggled with turnovers throughout the game, and at the end of the first quarter, CUI led 12-9.

In the second quarter, the Eagles continued their fine defensive play, but picked it up on the offensive end.  The Eagles hit on 53.3 percent of their shots for the quarter and took a 28-16 lead into the halftime break. 

In the third quarter, the Eagles went on an early run and built a big lead.  CUI hit shot after shot on their way to putting the game away.  CUI went up 41-20 early in the third.  The Vulcans came right back and made a huge run of their own, cutting the deficit to single digits at the end of the third.  Going into the fourth, CUI led 48-39.

"In the third quarter, we were getting everyone involved offensively and consistently found the mismatches to our advantage," said head coach Christine Collins-Kiernan. "When we get casual and lose our focus, we get sloppy and that is what leads to turnovers."

In the final period, the Eagles kept the Vulcans at arms length and secured the win.  The final period, like much of the game, was filled with turnovers, fouls, and chippy play. 

When the final seconds ticked off, the Eagles won 69-57.  Michaela VanderKlugt led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds for the Eagles.  Jasmine Rachal added 19 points and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc.

The Eagles return to CU Arena in just two days, taking on Hawaii Pacific on Monday at 5:30 p.m. The men's basketball teams will follow afterwards with game two of that night's scheduled doubleheader at approximately 7:30 p.m.

For the full CUI women's basketball schedule, click here.