HILO, Hawai'i – Mandi Kawaha dropped 30 points to power the Vulcans past Holy Names, 83-62, while becoming Hawai'i Hilo's new all-time leading scorer Wednesday night at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Pacific West Conference play.
After racing out to pour in 13 first-quarter points, the fifth-year senior surpassed Allie Navarette's (2017-20) 1,398 career-points total at the 5:07-mark of the fourth quarter with a step-back jumper at the top of the key to drop her 24th and 25th points of the contest.
Kawaha finished the night shooting 12 of 19 with three 3-pointers, three assists and two rebounds. It was her second 12-basket game of the season, matching the program's single-game best.
Hawai'i Hilo toyed with a double-digit lead through the first and second quarters before jumping out to a 20-point advantage early in the second half and never looking back.
The Vulcans sit right outside the bubble of qualifying for the six-team PacWest Championships in March and will need to win out the rest of their games while getting some help from other teams.
Azusa Pacific, Concordia University Irvine, Dominican and Point Loma Nazarene have already clinched berths in the postseason tournament. HPU can take a fifth spot with a win, leaving the sixth and final spot up for grabs between four schools with Biola in the driver's seat at 9-7.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Earlier this season, Kawaha also set a new single-game scoring record with 36 points against HPU. She also became the program's all-time assists leader (356+) that same evening against HPU in December. Kawaha also currently ranks No. 2 in steals (169), No. 3 in 3-pointers (135) No. 3 in free throws (235), No. 3 in rebounds (451) and No. 5 in points per game (12.9).
- Kamalu Kamakawiwoole totaled 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting with 15 rebounds for a fourth-career double-double. She also had one block to slide into a tie for the program record for most blocks in a single-season (26).
- Bree Olson grabbed her fifth-career double-double with 10 points and 12 boards.
- Ani Tu'utafaiva led Holy Names with 21 points (7-9 FG) and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Jazmine Soto followed with 19 points.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 8-13 overall, 5-10 PacWest while Holy Names fell to a 1-21 record (0-14 PacWest).
The Vulcans return for their final home game Saturday, Feb. 11 against Fresno Pacific (5-10 PacWest) with tip-off set for 5 p.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Four seniors — Mandi Kawaha, Jenna Waki, Bree Olson, Sierra Cavaletto — will be honored following the game.
Hawai'i Hilo and FPU previously met Jan. 24 with the Sunbirds winning, 58-49.
Holy Names will travel to O'ahu to play HPU and Chaminade.
