Kamie Imai Earns Weekly PacWest Award

University of Hawai`i at Hilo junior guard/forward Kamie Imai has been named PacWest Conference Player of the Week in women’s basketball. The award recognizes games played between January 21 and 27.

In her first year at UHH following a transfer from Utah State, Imai has assumed a dual rule under head coach David Kaneshiro. Not only has she brought a dangerous mid-range offensive game, but she also has taken control of the boards. On the season, she leads the team with 11.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

In an overtime win against Holy Names on January 21, the 5-foot-9 Hilo native scored 10 points and finished one rebound shy of a double-double in the 72-64 result. Five days later in a home win against BYU-Hawaii, she led the team with 19 points and 12 rebounds. UH Hilo won that game by the score of 67-36.

For the week, Imai averaged 14.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per contest.

UH Hilo is 10-6 overall and 7-3 in the conference. They have won six games in the row, putting them fourth in the standings, two games behind conference leader Grand Canyon. If the Vulcans can remain in the top six in the standings, they will qualify for the PacWest Basketball Tournament, played March 7-9 at Azuza Pacific.