HILO, Hawai'i – The Big Island Holiday Classic returns this week with four NCAA Division II Women's Basketball matchups on tap on Tuesday (3 PM and 5 PM) and Wednesday (1 PM and 5 PM) afternoons at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Four teams featured in this year's November edition of the Big Island Holiday Classic: University of Hawai'i at Hilo, No. 7 Gannon University (Pennsylvania), Saginaw Valley State University (Michigan), Wingate University (North Carolina).
The Vulcans will match up against Wingate on Tuesday and fifth-ranked Gannon on Wednesday, both scheduled for 5 p.m. tip-off.
BIG ISLAND HOLIDAY CLASSIC (AFOOK CHINEN-CIVIC AUDITORIUM)
- Tuesday, Nov. 25 (3 PM): Hawai'i Hilo vs Wingate
- Tuesday, Nov. 25 (5 PM): Saginaw Valley State vs Gannon
- Wednesday, Nov. 26 (1 PM): Saginaw Valley State vs Wingate
- Wednesday, Nov. 26 (5 PM): Hawai'i Hilo vs Gannon
University of Hawai'i at Hilo Vulcans
- Hilo, Hawai'i (Pacific West Conference)
- Head Coach: David Kaneshiro (16th Season)
- 2024-25 Record: 8-18 Overall (6-14 PacWest)
- 2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 11
- Current Record: 2-1 Overall
- Stats Leaders: #10 Keirstyn Agonias (17.7 points/game, .742 FG%), #12 Brooke Samura (14.3 points/game, 9.7 rebounds/game, 4.7 steals/game)
No. 7 Gannon University Golden Knights
- Erie, Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)
- Head Coach: Cleve Wright (18th Season)
- 2024-25 Record: 28-7 Overall (16-4 PSAC)
- PSAC Tournament Semifinals, NCAA Atlantic Region Champions, NCAA National Championship Elite Eight
- 2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 1 West
- Current Record: 5-1 Overall
- W 66-51 vs No. 2 Union (Nov. 7)
- W 70-55 vs No. 4 North Georgia (Nov. 9)
- Stats Leaders: #12 Bri Claxon (15.7 points/game), #23 Kate Ratliff (12.7 points/game, 12-24 3PT)
Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals
- University City, Michigan (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
- Head Coach: Jenny Pruett (Seventh Season)
- 2024-25 Record: 15-14 Overall (9-11 GLIAC)
- GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals
- 2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 7
- Current Record: 1-2 Overall
- Stats Leaders: #4 Megan McCalla (15.0 points/game, .405 FG%, 7.0 rebounds/game), #20 Lydia Meredith (15.0 points/game, .476 FG%, 7.5 rebounds/game, 3.0 steals/game), #5 Kaitlyn Geurink (7.3 rebounds/game), #11 Lainey Yater (5.3 assists/game)
Wingate University Bulldogs
- Wingate, North Carolina (South Atlantic Conference)
- Head Coach: Ann Hancock (14th Season)
- 2024-25 Record: 19-11 Overall (17-7 SAC)
- SAC Tournament Semifinals
- 2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Record: 2-1 Overall
- Stats Leaders: #10 Kyleigh Bacon (12.3 points/game, 9.3 rebounds/game), #34 Laura Montiel (12.0 points/game, 5.3 steals/game), #5 Laney Beale (5-7 3PT)
BIG ISLAND HOLIDAY CLASSIC (TITLE TOWN EVENTS)
Winter 2022 marked the return of the Big Island Holiday Classic, bringing collegiate basketball teams to the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo, Hawai'i. It is hosted bi-annually (Novemeber and December) by the University of Hawai'i at Hilo and Title Town Events (formerly Malika Sport Tours). Title Town Events also hosts the Ulili Softball Invitational and Aloha Cup Pre Season Invitational (spring soccer).
