Vulcans sweep Sharks
UH-Hilo’s basketball teams ended their regular season with a senior night sweep, both defeating Hawaii Pacific on Saturday afternoon at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Women’s team
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The Vulcans rode a second-half surge to victory, prevailing over the Sharks 63-54 to end the regular season 10-10 in Pacific West Conference play — potentially securing a berth in the coming PacWest championship, which the conference’s top six teams will take part in this week.
UHH and HPU entered halftime neck-and-neck, with the Sharks ahead just 34-33. The Sharks had a slightly higher rate of success shooting during the first half — as UH-Hilo went 13-for-28 from the field and four-for-nine from downtown, and HPU shot 13-for-25 from the field and four-for-six from the three point line.
While the Vulcans’ shooting stayed about the same in the second half, they debilitated the Sharks’ offense — holding them to 10 of 25 field goal attempts and two of seven three-pointers to outscore them 30-20.
Fifth-year senior Kamalu Kamakawiwoole showed out for her final home game and led the way for UH-Hilo, nearly notching a double-double with 18 points and nine boards. She also recorded two blocks and two steals, and went four-for-five from the free throw line.
Erica Ingram scored ten points and grabbed eight rebounds for UHH, and teammate Keirstyn Agonias also scored ten points.
Ella Berge was the only HPU player to surpass double digits, scoring 18 points.
The Vulcans will now await confirmation of their entry to the PacWest tournament. The tourney begins Thursday and runs through Saturday at Point Loma Nazarene’s Golden Gymnasium in San Diego, Calif.
Men’s team
Though the Vulcans had already punched their ticket to the PacWest tournament and could have sleepwalked through their final matchup — that’s not their style, and they instead went all out, routing HPU 70-52.
Three Vulcans crested double digits points and two notched double-doubles. Kalique Mitchell scored 18 points and grabbed 13 boards, Nadjrick Peat scored 14 points with 16 rebounds and Carlos Ramsey Jr. scored 18 points.
UH-Hilo (18-11 ovr., 12-8 conf.) ends the regular season 3-1 against PacWest rivals from Hawai‘i. The Vulcans beat Chaminade twice, and lost 69-66 in overtime to HPU in late January.
The victory over No. 3 HPU moved UHH up a spot in the PacWest standings, from No. 5 to No. 4. This will most likely secure them a better seeding for the playoffs.
This season will be the Vulcan’s third straight postseason appearance. Their last two visits both saw them fall in the first round, losing 79-51 to Biola last year and 87-72 to Azusa Pacific the year prior.
