Big Island Holiday Classic tips off today with four NCAA Division II women’s basketball teams

The Big Island Holiday Classic returns to the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium today with four NCAA Division II women’s basketball games scheduled across two days.

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo will host No. 5 Gannon University of Pennsylvania, Saginaw Valley State University of Michigan and Wingate University of North Carolina in the tournament.

Games are set for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday, followed by 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Hilo will face Wingate in Tuesday’s late game and will take on nationally ranked Gannon at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Fans attending Tuesday’s matchup against Wingate are encouraged to wear red; the first 200 spectators will receive a free T-shirt, organizers said.

The Big Island Holiday Classic resumed in 2022 after a pandemic hiatus and is held twice each winter, in November and December.

The event is co-hosted by UH Hilo and Title Town Events, which also organizes the Ulili Softball Invitational and the Aloha Cup preseason soccer tournament.

The Big Island Holiday Classic schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, Nov. 25 (3 PM): Hawai’i Hilo vs Wingate
Tuesday, Nov. 25 (5 PM): Saginaw Valley State vs Gannon
Wednesday, Nov. 26 (1 PM): Saginaw Valley State vs Wingate
Wednesday, Nov. 26 (5 PM): Hawai’i Hilo vs Gannon
University of Hawai’i at Hilo Vulcans

Hilo, Hawai’i (Pacific West Conference)
Head Coach: David Kaneshiro (16th Season)
2024-25 Record: 8-18 Overall (6-14 PacWest)
2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 11
Current Record: 2-1 Overall
Stats Leaders: #10 Keirstyn Agonias (17.7 points/game, .742 FG%), #12 Brooke Samura (14.3 points/game, 9.7 rebounds/game, 4.7 steals/game)
No. 5 Gannon University Golden Knights

Erie, Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference)
Head Coach: Cleve Wright (18th Season)
2024-25 Record: 28-7 Overall (16-4 PSAC)
PSAC Tournament Semifinals, NCAA Atlantic Region Champions, NCAA National Championship Elite Eight
2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 1 West
Current Record: 5-1 Overall
W 66-51 vs No. 2 Union (Nov. 7)
W 70-55 vs No. 4 North Georgia (Nov. 9)
Stats Leaders: #12 Bri Claxon (15.7 points/game), #23 Kate Ratliff (12.7 points/game, 12-24 3PT)
Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals

University City, Michigan (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)
Head Coach: Jenny Pruett (Seventh Season)
2024-25 Record: 15-14 Overall (9-11 GLIAC)
GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinals
2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 7
Current Record: 1-2 Overall
Stats Leaders: #4 Megan McCalla (15.0 points/game, .405 FG%, 7.0 rebounds/game), #20 Lydia Meredith (15.0 points/game, .476 FG%, 7.5 rebounds/game, 3.0 steals/game), #5 Kaitlyn Geurink (7.3 rebounds/game), #11 Lainey Yater (5.3 assists/game)
Wingate University Bulldogs

Wingate, North Carolina (South Atlantic Conference)
Head Coach: Ann Hancock (14th Season)
2024-25 Record: 19-11 Overall (17-7 SAC)
SAC Tournament Semifinals
2025-26 Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
Current Record: 2-1 Overall
Stats Leaders: #10 Kyleigh Bacon (12.3 points/game, 9.3 rebounds/game), #34 Laura Montiel (12.0 points/game, 5.3 steals/game), #5 Laney Beale (5-7 3PT)