HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball closed the calendar year with a 69-63 victory over HPU on Saturday afternoon at The Shark Tank on O'ahu.
The Vulcans led throughout the entirety of the contest, but the Sharks threatened late by making it a three-point ballgame with just under two minutes remaining.
After trading a few missed scoring opportunities, Mindy Kawaha raced inside and dropped the ball off to Noelle Su'a-Godinet to go off the glass with the foul for a three-point score to make it a 65-59 lead. HPU managed to answer back with a basket and were forced to foul with time winding away, but Kawaha sank four free throws to wrap up the victory.
Kawaha finished with a team-high 15 points (3-4 3PT, 6-6 FT) and three assists. Su'a-Godinet (11) and Brooke Samura (10) each totaled double-digit rebound numbers.
GAME NOTES
- The two teams had just met nine days prior in Hilo with the Sharks managing to pull off a 57-49 victory. After trading a few missed scoring opportunities,
- Kawaha's three assists (210 career total) moved her to No. 4 in the program rankings surpassing Alexa Jacobs (2014-2017).
- Su'a-Godinet brought her career rebounds total to 328 to move to No. 9 in the program record book — surpassing Patience Taylor (2016-19).
- Kawaha had one takeaway (82 career total) to move to No. 8 in the program rankings — moving past Allie Navarette (2017-2020).
- Keirstyn Agonias had two steals to reach 101 career takeaways (ranked No. 6 in the program).
- Hawai'i Hilo: 4-4 Overall (2-1 PacWest)
- HPU: 3-4 Overall (2-1 PacWest)
- Vulcans and Sharks are now tied in the women's basketball portion of the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge, a friendly points-based competition determined by head-to-head matchups between the three Division-II Hawai'i schools. Both teams have one more matchup remaining — both against Chaminade. Hawai'i Hilo will earn at least two points to count toward the final total, which the Vulcans led after the end of the fall season.
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Jan. 3 (11 AM) vs Jessup (Rocklin, CA)
- Monday, Jan. 5 (NOON) vs Fresno Pacific (Fresno, CA)
- Thursday, Jan. 8 (3:30 PM) vs Dominican (San Rafael, CA)
- Saturday, Jan. 10 (10 AM) vs Menlo (Atherton, CA)
- Thursday, Jan. 15 (5 PM) vs Dominican (Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 11 in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans finished the 2024-25 regular season tied at No. 10 in the conference standings. The 2025-26 PacWest Championships will be hosted by PLNU on March 5-7 in San Diego.
PURCHASE TICKETS
Season and individual tickets for the Vulcans' 13 home matches at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium are available for purchase at HiloAthletics.com/tickets. Season tickets are $135 ($70 for seniors 65+ and middle/high school students) and also includes admission to an additional 16 Vulcans Men's Basketball home events.
BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE
Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes are offered at $15 with a season-package price of $146.25.
