ISLE FILE
HPU women clinch region berth
Advertiser Staff
Genesis Lewis had 14 points and 11 rebounds as the Hawai'i Pacific women's basketball team beat host Grand Canyon, 67-64, yesterday to earn its first regional berth in the program's history.
Jazzmin Awa-Williams added 12 points and six rebounds, and Courtney Buster contributed 12 rebounds and seven points for the Sea Warriors, who improved to 17-5 overall and 13-1 in the Pacific West Conference.
HPU has two more PacWest games, but hold the tiebreaker edge over GCU (18-8, 12-3) and Dixie State (16-8, 12-3).
"I'm really proud of the girls," said HPU coach Jeff Harada, whose team earned a trip to the NCAA West Region Tournament. "It was a great win and the team is thrilled."
The Sea Warriors overcame an eight-point deficit with an 11-0 run early in the second half, then squandered an eight-point lead in the final 2:42 of regulation, which ended with the score tied at 57.
Stacy Haddow's layup gave the Antelopes a 59-57 lead, but successive 3-pointers by Mackenna Karasawa and Lewis put the Sea Warriors ahead to stay at 63-59.
SURFING
BARTELS, HO IN SEMIFINALS
Hawai'i surfers Melanie Bartels and Coco Ho advanced to the semifinals of the Roxy Pro women's contest yesterday at Australia.
The third round and quarterfinals were completed in 2- to 3-foot waves at Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta, Australia.
Bartels defeated former world champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru in the quarterfinals, 11.43-9.76.
Ho, the 2009 ASP Rookie of the Year, edged Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons in the quarterfinals, 14.33-14.07. Ho took the lead midway through the heat, then held off a late charge by Fitzgibbons.
Ho is scheduled to face three-time defending champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia in the semifinals. Bartels is scheduled to face Australian Chelsea Hedges in the other semifinal.
The men's Quiksilver Pro contest was completed yesterday, also at Snapper Rocks.
Taj Burrow of Australia defeated South Africa's Jordy Smith in the final to win $50,000.
No Hawai'i surfers made it to the final day of the men's competition. Fred Patacchia Jr. of O'ahu's North Shore tied for ninth as the top-placing Hawai'i surfer.
It is the opening event on the 2010 ASP World Tour.