They found a way.
They found a way.
After a dozen games this season in which the inexperienced University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s basketball team seemed to find new ways to lose games, the Vulcans had to dig down deep Thursday night at Hilo Civic, and when they did, they found a winning formula.
It turned into a second consecutive win, a 68-63 decision over Dixie State (3-6 in the Pacific West Conference, 3-12 overall) on the current five-game homestand and improved Hawaii-Hilo’s record to 4-4 in conference (4-9 overall), as it continued its upward climb in the standings.
For the first time in a long time, the Vulcans won the board battle. They out rebounded Dixie State 43-39, including edges on both the offensive (15-12) and defensive (28-27) boards.
“It could be just the time we’ve been together is finally starting to develop this approach, this attitude,” said UH-Hilo coach David Kaneshiro. “We haven’t been working on anything new and different, but stressing how to block out, maybe things like that are finally kicking in. I’m just happy for them to see them get rewarded for the work they’ve put in.”
Kim Schmelz came off the bench to lead the Vulcans with 19 points that included a game-high 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Sydney Mercer backed up her 25-point game Monday night with 14 against the Red Storm.
The Vulcans overcame a first half dry spell that probably would have cost them a game a few weeks ago after playing back-and-forth in the first quarter with the Red Storm when Tramina Jordan knocked down an uncontested 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to give Dixie State a 22-19 edge after the first 10 minutes.
UH-Hilo seemed to disappear out a side door at that point, going without a field goal or a free throw until Schmelz drove inside and scored with 5:30 left in the half to narrow the deficit to 34-21. Her basket ended a 15-0 run by Dixie State that stretched a full 5:07 of playing time from a basket by Pilialoha Kailiawa with 37 seconds left in the first quarter.
It was suggested to Kaneshiro that his team may not have come back from the defensive issues in the second quarter a few weeks ago.
“That’s probably right,” he said. “We would have times like that and it would be tough, but they are coming together.”
Kaneshiro pointed out that those deficits need to be addressed one possession at a time and the team seemed to get the message.
“We just kind of grinded it out after (the dry spell),” Schmelz said. “We got some steals and that helped our momentum, but we kept getting rebounds and that was big for us.”
Schmelz said the 3-point shot felt good, “but you sort of always want to shoot it when you’re open; I would just as soon get a pass to someone for a basket if that was open, whatever it takes is good with me.”