UH-Hilo’s Kupaa Harrison and Allie Navarette each had productive seasons on the basketball court but missed the postseason.
That’s not all they share in common. Both were named to the PacWest second team on Wednesday, a first time honor for Harrison and the third league recognition for Navarette.
Harrison, from Kailua, Oahu, averaged 17.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. He ranked third in the conference in scoring and seventh in reboundings.
Harrison, a senior, had three game-winning baskets this season and a number of game-clinching scores. His most memorable was perhaps on Jan. 27 when No. 24 drained a 3-pointer with one second left in overtime to top Holy Names, just one day after his basketball hero Kobe Bryant, who also wore No. 24, passed away.
Selom Mawugbe of Azusa Pacific was named the PacWest Player of the Year, Kendall Small of Chaminade is the Defender of the Year, Darnell Robateau (Point Loma) is the Newcomer of the Year, Isaac Amaral-Artharee (Chaminade) was named the Freshman of the Year and the Coach of the Year is APU’s Peter Bond.
Navarette, from Torrance, Calif., earned first-team honors as a sophomore and was honorable mention as a freshman.
She averaged 19.2ppg and 9.3 rpg and shot 84 percent from the free throw line. She was second in scoring, fourth in rebounds and third in free throw percentage in the conference.
The 6-foot junior holds at least 19 career school records. This year, she tied for the record for most points (34), most rebounds (19) and best free throw percentage in a game (12 for 12).
Hawaii Pacific’s Amy Baum was named the PacWest Player of the Year, Azusa Pacific’s Laura Pranger is the Defender of the Year, HPU’s Ally Bates is Newcomer of the Year, HPU’s Reid Takatsuka is the Coach of the Year and the Freshman of the Year award went to Biola’s Stephanie Lee.