SAN FRANCISCO, California – Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball is headed home with a win after outlasting Academy of Art, 63-60, Monday evening in Pacific West Conference play at the Kezar Pavilion to close out its Northern California road trip.
It was tough for either to get shots to fall in the final quarter as both teams combined to go .217 from the field with the Vulcans shooting just 1 of 8 (.125). However, Hawai'i Hilo made up for it at the charity stripe, going 11 of 16 (.688) on free throws to help thwart the Urban Knights. After scoring the first five points of the fourth period, ART U managed to outscore the Vulcans, 10-2, from the eight-minute mark and all the way through to a tied score with 1:37 remaining.
Keirstyn Agonias scored a game-high 19 points and sank four shots from the free-throw line in the final minute-plus. Caiyle Kaupu followed with 17 points, six rebounds and five steals. Mindy Kawaha had just two points, sinking a pair of free throws with 10 seconds on the clock to add the extra cushion needed for the Vulcans victory.
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 5-14 in PacWest play (7-18 overall) as Academy of Art moved to a 4-14 conference record (11-15 overall).
OTHER NOTES
- Agonias' 19 points moved her up to No. 6 all-time in the program record books with a career total of 734, surpassing Sara Shimizu ('18-'22).
- As for single-season points, Kaupu moved up to No. 8 with a current total of 335 points — topping Hillary Hurley's 2010-11 season mark of 330. Huihui also eclipsed the 300 points to sit at a tie with Kamalu Kamakawiwoole's 2024-25 season tally.
- The Vulcans moved to a tie at No. 11 in the PacWest standings with Chaminade. Academy of Art is slotted at No. 13. All six PacWest Championships postseason tournament berths have been claimed by Point Loma (16-2), Azusa Pacific (14-4), Dominican (13-5), Westmont (13-6), Fresno Pacific (9-10) and Biola (7-12).
UP NEXT: Senior Day – Saturday, March 1 (1 PM) vs HPU (Hilo, Hawai'i / Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium)
SENIOR DAY: Hawai'i Hilo Women's Basketball will honor its three departing seniors following Saturday's game — Caiyle Kaupu, Erica Ingram and Jazmine Soto.
