Career Night Leads Williams to PacWest Weekly Award

University of Hawai’i at Hilo guard Kirstie Williams has been the focal point of opposing defenses across the PacWest Conference all season long.

With the Vulcans’ PacWest postseason hopes hanging in the balance, Williams came through with her biggest performance of the season last Wednesday, scoring a career-high 33 points and draining six three-pointers to knock off California Baptist 77-73 in Riverside, Calif.

The effort earned Williams the PacWest Co-Player of the Week Award for games played between Feb. 9-15.

The leading returning scorer from last year’s squad has had tough outings all season long. In three games this season, she has been held without a field goal, and was kept to single-digit scoring in eight other contests. Prior to last Wednesday’s effort, Williams’ best scoring effort was a 17-point performance against BYU-Hawai’i on Dec. 20.

In the win, Williams shot 11-for-14 from the field and 6-for-7 from beyond the arc. She was also perfect from the free throw line, hitting all five of her attempts.

It was also a top team effort as well. The Vulcans shot a season-best 51.7 percent from the floor and 58.3 percent from outside the three-point line.

UH-Hilo went 1-2 in the three games played during the week, all on the road. Williams averaged 19.3 points per game and 2.3 steals per contest during the mainland road trip. She has also hit double-digits in her last four outings, averaging 17 points per night.