HILO, Hawai'i – The Hawai'i Hilo women's basketball team added another notch to the win column after racing by Academy of Art, 60-48, Thursday evening in Pacific West Conference action at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Both teams suited up just six active players as they combined to shoot 24.1 percent from the field in the first period. Still, the Vulcans used an early 12-2 lead to carry the way to a 21-point second quarter as Kamalu Kamakawiwoole and Kaile Cruz poured in nine and eight points, respectively.
The two teams played even through the second half as the Vulcans snapped a three-game skid to take the victory, 60-48.
"For them to bounce back and stay with it — I thought we executed well defensively and rebounded pretty well," Vulcans head coach David Kaneshiro said. "We did a lot of things well tonight, including the energy we brought from our players who were injured. They were into the game on the bench so it was a really good team effort."
Currently, ART U sits at No. 7 in the PacWest standings while Hawai'i Hilo is at No. 8. The top six teams will qualify for the post-season PacWest Championships in early Mrach.
By The Numbers
- Kamalu Kamakawiwoole once again set a new career high in scoring, putting up 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting with six rebounds and one steal.
- Mandi Kawaha, Mindy Kawaha and Kaile Cruz each tallied up 11 points apiece as Mandi and Mindy dished out six and seven assists, respectively. Mandi also totaled 10 rebounds for a consecutive double-double and the fifth of her career.
- The Vulcans took 21 shot-attempts from beyond the arc, the most in the last five games. Hawai'i finished with six 3-pointers — three each from Cruz and Mandi Kawaha — as ART U went just 2 of 17.
- Alisha Wilson led Academy of Art with 23 points (11-17 FG), 15 rebounds and four blocks.
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 6-8 overall, 3-5 PacWest while Academy of Art moved to a 4-12 record (4-6 PacWest).
The Vulcans will be back in action Monday, Jan. 16 for a hoops doubleheader against No. 25 Azusa Pacific (13-3 overall, 8-1 PacWest). The women will tip off at 5 p.m. followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. in the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Fans attending Monday's contests are encouraged to wear white.
The Urban Knights will return home to host Concordia University Irvine on Jan. 19.
Hawai'i Hilo and Academy of Art will match up again Jan. 29 in Belmont, California at the former Notre Dame de Namur Walter Gleason Gym.
