HILO, Hawai'i – The Vulcans four seniors ended their Hawai'i Hilo careers with a big win at home after blitzing Fresno Pacific, 71-35, Saturday evening in Pacific West Conference play at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Hawai'i Hilo shot a blistering 69.2 percent from the field in the opening quarter to jump out to an early 21-10 lead and never looked back.
In the final quarter, Fresno Pacific was held to just one basket made as it shot 1 of 16 from the field.
Sierra Cavaletto, Bree Olson, Jenna Waki and Mandi Kawaha were honored following the game as part of Senior Night.
Five of the six spots in the PacWest Championships have already been clinched — Azusa Pacific, Concordia University Irvine, HPU, Dominican and Point Loma Nazarene — as Biola sits at No. 6 with just one win away from getting the final spot.
Hawai'i Hilo is the only other team that has not been officially eliminated, but even if the Vulcans and Eagles end the regular season at 10-10, the tiebreaker would end up going to Biola since it swept Fresno Pacific.
(CORRECTION: FEB. 13, 2023): If both teams are to finish the season 10-10, the tiebreaker would go to the Vulcans since Hawai'i Hilo would have split with CUI while Biola would have been swept by the Eagles in the season series.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Kamalu Kamakawiwoole led the Vulcans with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds.
- Mandi Kawaha followed up with 16 points, six rebounds and six assists in her final game at home.
- Jenna Waki finished with nine points, four rebounds and three assists.
- Sierra Cavaletto got her first career start and finished with eight points, two 3-pointers and two rebounds.
- FPU finished the game shooting 22.0 percent (11-50 FG) with 1 of 19 (5.3 percent) on 3-pointers.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 9-13 overall, 6-10 PacWest while Fresno Pacific fell to a 10-13 record (5-11 PacWest).
The Vulcans will hit the road to close out their season on a four-game slate against Azusa Pacific, Concordia University Irvine, Biola and Point Loma Nazarene.
