UHH Women’s Hoops Picked to Finish Seventh in PWC

The University of Hawai`i at Hilo women’s basketball team was picked to finish seventh in the Pacific West Conference this season, based on a league-wide poll released Thursday by the league.

Conference champion Academy of Art University received six of 13 possible first place votes to open the season as the projected conference favorite. Azusa Pacific follows with three first place votes to finish 14 points behind the Urban Knights. California Baptist University and Hawai`i Pacific University each received two first place votes to place third and fourth, respectively.

The Vulcans return only one starter from last season’s team and two players overall. Senior Kamie Imai, who enters her second season with UH-Hilo after transferring from Utah State, led the team last season with 10.9 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per contest. The Waiakea alum started 22 of the team’s 24 games last season.

Also returning is Thea Hanato-Smith, a third-year player from Konawaena High School. Hanato-Smith averaged just over seven minutes per game in 17 games played, scoring 1.9 points per game and draining five three point shots in nine attempts.

UH-Hilo opened its season on Oct. 30 with an exhibition game at Hawai`i. The Vulcans lost 70-35 to the Rainbow Wahine. Newcomers Jordan Kealoha and Whitney Edens led the way with seven points each.

UH-Hilo kicks off the regular season against Alaska-Fairbanks on November 18 at the UH-Hilo Gymnasium. Tip off is slated for 5:00 p.m.

2013-2014 PacWest Preseason Women’s Poll – Points (first place votes)

1. Academy of Art – 159 (6)

2. Azusa Pacific – 145 (3)

3. California Baptist – 140 (2)

4. Hawai`i Pacific – 139 (2)

5. Dixie State – 117

6. Point Loma Nazarene – 112

7. Hawai`i Hilo – 94

8. Holy Names – 60

9-tie. BYU-Hawai`i – 54

9-tie. Notre Dame de Namur – 54

11. Fresno Pacific – 52

12. Dominican – 39

13. Chaminade – 18

2013-2014 Preseason All-PacWest Team

Kelly Hardeman – Azusa Pacific (voted Preseason Player of the Year)

Regina Camera – Academy of Art

Callie Rhoads – Point Loma Nazarene

Skye Savini – Hawai`i Pacific

Sha`Nice Storey –  Academy of Art

Brydgette Tatupu-Leopoldo – BYU-Hawai`i

Keairra White – Fresno Pacific