Photo courtesy of Joe Poellot/UHH.
HILO, Hawai'i-- The UH Hilo women's basketball team picked up their most impressive win of the season in a 78-66 upset over Point Loma in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Point Loma was projected to finish third in the PacWest Conference Preseason poll, while UH Hilo was projected to finish ninth. UHH will improve 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the PacWest, while PLNU will fall 6-3 and 2-1 in league standings.
The Stats
Mandi Kawaha led the Vulcans' offense with a career-high of 27 points. Kawaha was 4-for-4 behind the arc, 9-for-15 in the field, and 5-for-6 in free throws.
Sara Shimizu was right behind Mandi Kawaha with a career-high of 21 points. Shimizu was 3-for-8 in threes', 7-for-12 in the field, hit 2-of-4 free throws, and passed four assists.
The Red and Black were 12-for-20 in three's, just three threes' away from beating their team's single-game record. Heaven Samayoa-Mathis was 2-for-5 behind the arc and 3-for-3 at the free throw line.
Nikki Miller was the Vulcan rebound leader, snagging 11 boards.
The Game
The Vulcans held the lead the entire game, starting when they stuned the Sea Lions with a 5-0 start. UHH continued to apply offensive pressure the whole quarter that ended with UHH in the lead, 17-13.
Point Loma picked up the pace in the second quarter and a basket by PLNU's Haylee Saurette brought the Sea Lions within one point, their closest mark of the night.
The Vulcans', eager for the win, rose up to the challenge. Mindy Kawaha and Samayoa-Mathis both hit three's that contributed to their 30-19 lead.
Miller, the Vulcan rebound leader of the night, sent her team into halftime after sinking in Mandi Kawaha's missed layup, bringing the score up to 42-27.
Entering the third quarter, Mandi Kawaha was 3-for-3 in threes', Shimizu was 2-for-3, and Samayoa-Mathis was 2-for-4. The Vulcans were at an impressive 8-for-13 to the Sea Lions 0-for-8 behind the arc. UH Hilo also led in assists, having six to Point Loma's four.
The Sea Lions continued to chip away at the Vulcans' lead, getting as close as 48-36 in the third, but the Vulcans refused to let it go. Shimizu came up clutch, supplying two threes' and Jenna Waki, Mandi Kawaha and Samayoa-Mathis had one each, which contributed to their 62-45 lead.
The Vulcans slowed their scoring in the fourth and played great defense which ensured their 78-66 win.
The Vulcans play next Dec. 12 against Hawaii Pacific at 1 pm HT in the Vulcan Gym.
To view the women's basketball schedule, CLICK HERE.
