The UH Hilo women’s basketball team defeated nationally ranked No. 5 Alaska Anchorage, pulling off a 76-73 upset in overtime, halting the undefeated Seawolves’s eight-game winning streak.
The Seawolves now fall to 8-1 overall while the Vulcans improve 5-2.
In the first quarter, Jenna Waki put the Vulcans on the board with a lay up (2-0). The Seawolves were quick to answer back with a three by Nicole Pinckney which the Vulcans in turn responded with a three by Sara Shimizu (5-3). The Vulcans held on to their lead throughout the frame and a good free throw by Mindy Kawaha closed out the first quarter for the Vulcans (17-15).
UH Hilo started with the ball in the second quarter and got the first basket once again, this time by Nikki Miller (19-15). A jump shot by UAA’s Kimani Fernandez put the Seawolves in a one-point reach (23-22) but Alaska Anchorage wasn’t able to push past the Vulcans’ lead. The Red and Black continued to score and Mandi Kawaha made a jump shot that extended their lead to 27-24. Sierra Cavaletto gave UHH their largest lead of the game with a little less than four minutes remaining in the second quarter. Cavaletto stole the ball off a Seawolf pass and made her way down the court to score a Vulcan bucket (31-24). After a media timeout, Mandi Kawaha hit a trey to widen UH Hilo’s lead 34-26 and the Vulcans ended the half leading the Seawolves 36-30.
The Vulcans scored the first basket of the third quarter off a lay up by Waki (38-30). The Seawolves picked up the pace and were appearing to pick up some momentum after making back-to-back shots when head coach David Kaneshiro called a timeout to break up the action. With a little over a minute remaining, Heaven Samayoa-Mathis scored three points off a good lay up and free throw (49-44) and then got another scoring opportunity with a little less than 30 seconds remaining, sinking in another bucket that put the Vulcans up 51-44.
A three by Shimizu began the Vulcans’ fourth quarter setting them up with a 10-point lead (54-44). Back-to-back threes’ by Mandi Kawaha and Samayoa-Mathis put UH Hilo up, 60-50. With 4:36 on the clock, the Seawolves worked back to make it a four-point game, but the Vulcans refused to let down. Two good free throws gave UHH some cushion, increasing the Red and Black’s lead 62-56. With less than two minutes remaining, a basket by UAA’s Jazzpher Evans tied up the game 64-64. Both teams battled to take the game-winning point, but great defense on both sides led to overtime.
UAA’s Lauren Johnson scored the first three-point bucket of overtime, taking the Seawolves first lead of the game. Samayoa-Mathis quickly matched Johnson’s three with a three-pointer of her own, knotting the score 67-67. The Seawolves took the lead again at 69-68, until Waki tied up the game with a free throw (69-69). UAA’s Sala Langi got back-to-back baskets, stealing the lead back, 73-69. Refusing to give up the Vulcans closed the gap to 73-71 with two good free throws by Waki. The Kawaha sisters delivered what would end up being the final blows with back-to-back buckets to take the game back 76-73. The Seawolves made their last attempt, calling a timeout with 13 seconds left on the clock. They immediately attempted a three-point play but were shut down by the Vulcans who brought home a 76-73 upset.
Photo credit: UH Hilo
