Western Wash. WWU 6-4,1-1 Great Northwest

Hawaii Hilo Hilo 1-6,0-2 PacWest

Western Wash. WWU

6-4,1-1 Great Northwest

Final

Dec. 20, 2024

Hawaii Hilo Hilo

1-6,0-2 PacWest

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Western Wash. WWU	13	19	18	16	66
Hawaii Hilo Hilo	20	10	16	16	62

Summary
Box Score

Gavin Yasunari / Yasunari Photography

Caiyle Kaupu (33)

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 12/20/2024 11:45:00 PM | Hawai‘i Hilo Sports Information

Vulcans' Late-Game Run Slips Away to Western Washington

HILO, Hawai'i – It was another down-to-the-wire finish as Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball fell just short to Western Washington, 66-62, Friday evening as part of the De Luz Chevrolet Big Island Holiday Classic at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

It was a close affair the whole way with Hawai'i Hilo clawing back from an eight-point deficit (largest lead in the second half) in the early moments of the final quarter. The Vulcans forced five turnovers, went 2 for 2 from the field and hit 7 of 8 free throws to outscore the Vikings, 11-3, to flip a 56-48 deficit into a 59-59 tied ballgame with just over two minutes to go. However, the home team finished 1 for 5 from the field and 1 of 3 at the free throw line as WWU managed to put through seven points to escape with the victory.

The Vulcans were short handed once again with just seven players available in rotation and lost two key pieces during their late-game run with six-footers KeanuMarie Huihui and Caiyle Kaupu fouling out of the contest at the 6:02 and 2:44 marks of the fourth period.

Kaupu her career-high of 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting (4-6 FT) along with five rebounds and one block. Jazmine Soto matched her game-high as a Vulcan (Feb. 19, 2024 vs Dominican) with 15 points (4-9 FG) while going 6 for 6 at the free throw line.

It was a consecutive narrow defeat by the Vulcans after leaving empty-handed on a last-second coast-to-coast buzzer-beater attempt in last week's two-point loss to Douglas College.

Hawai'i Hilo moved to 1-6 overall (0-2 PacWest) as Western Washington moved to a 6-4 record (1-1 GNAC).

UP NEXT: De Luz Chevrolet Big Island Holiday Classic – Saturday, Dec. 21 (5 PM) vs Truman State (Hilo, Hawai'i / Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)

DE LUZ CHEVROLET BIG ISLAND HOLIDAY CLASSIC: Winter 2022 marked the return of the Big Island Holiday Classic, bringing many men's and women's collegiate basketball programs to the Big Island of Hawai'i for competition and fun at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. The event, put on by TItleTown Events and hosted by the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, is a modern reiteration of the Big Island Invitational Tournament from the 1990s, which featured many NCAA Division I programs with the likes of Oklahoma, Oregon State, Iowa State, Arkansas, Creighton, Purdue, Stanford and UConn among others. More information available at HiloAthletics.com/BIC.

OTHER MATCHUPS (HILO, HAWAI'I / AFOOK-CHINEN CIVIC AUDITORIUM):

(MBB) Saturday, Dec. 21 (3 PM): Hawai'i Hilo vs Kansas Wesleyan
(WBB) Saturday, Dec. 21 (7 PM): Quincy vs Western Washington

SEASON TICKETS: Season tickets for 31 total Vulcans Basketball home events are now available. Online purchase available at HiloAthletics.com/Tickets.

VIDEO LIVESTREAM: Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball video livestream packages are now available for purchase online through the recently-launched PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. The 2024-25 season includes 17 total home broadcasts for $191.25. Prorated prices are available up until the midway point of the season. More information at HiloAthletics.com/livestream.

WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY VIKINGS