HPU notches first-ever win over UH-Manoa in women's hoops


Amy Baum scored a game-high 28 points with nine assists to lead visiting Hawaii Pacific to its first-ever win over the University of Hawaii, 82-74, at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center on Sunday night.

The Division-II Sharks (1-0) knocked off the D-I Rainbow Wahine (0-1), who suffered their first loss to a local D2 opponent after winning 26 in a row.

Baum played all 40 minutes and made 10 of her 20 field goals, along with nine assists, five steals and three rebounds. Olivia West added 22 points and Avery Cargill chipped in 14 points and six  rebounds in the win.

HPU shot 40.3 percent (29 of 72) from the field, but were 15 of 33 (45.5 percent) on 3-pointers.

Amy Atwell led the Rainbow Wahine with 21 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Daejah Phillips had 11 points and five rebounds and Jadynn Alexander added 10 points and six boards in the loss.

Hawaii shot 45.3 percent (11 of 30) from the field, including just 5 of 16 (31.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

UH out-rebounded HPU 44-30 and also held advantages in bench points (24-14) and points in the paint (34 to 24), but committed 20 turnovers to HPU's 11.

Freshman guard Kelsie Imai, a 2020 Waiakea graduate, scored five points, grabbed six rebounds and dished out a pair of assists in 24 minutes played in her collegiate debut.

The Sharks went 29-1 last season, including a 22-0 mark in the PacWest Conference.

The Rainbow Wahine are coming off of a 16-14 campaign last season.

UH beat HPU in an exhibition at Stan Sheriff Center last year, 76-71, to open the year.

Hawaii's roster also includes junior guard Dakota "Kodee" Viena (Maryknoll '18) and freshman guard Kylie Yung (Iolani '20).

Neither got into Sunday's game, not did HPU's pair of local players in freshmen Anau Tuivau (Seabury Hall '20) and Taylor Tateyama (Roosevelt ‘2020).

HPU led at the half, 39-34.