UH-Hilo AD search extended

The search for a permanent athletic director at the University of Hawaii-Hilo has been extended through the spring 2009 semester.

Dr. Luoluo Hong, UH-Hilo's acting athletic director, pushed back the anticipated start date of the new AD from March 1 to July 1.

The delay was a result of two of three AD finalists withdrawing their candicacy after campus visits, the school said in a release yesterday.

[ PACWEST PLACE ]

Seasiders edge Vulcans in hoops

Brigham Young-Hawaii topped Hawaii-Hilo 84-81 in a men's basketball nonconference showdown last night.

Lucas Alves scored 24 points on 9-for-18 shooting to lead the visiting Seasiders, who improved to 18-1.

Jay DeMaestri led Hawaii-Hilo (11-10), with 20 points.

BYUH maintained the top spot in the latest NCAA Division II men's basketball West Region poll announced yesterday, with Chaminade sitting in seventh.

The Seasiders are currently riding a 15-game winning streak. The Silverswords (11-8) are winners of 10 of their last 13 games.

The weekly poll determines which teams make the NCAA Division II tournament. Eight teams will qualify for the West Regional.

Sea Warriors upend Antelopes

Mana Hopkins and Paris Gravely dropped in 24 points apiece to help Hawaii Pacific end a three-game women's basketball losing streak by beating Grand Canyon 87-64 yesterday in Phoenix.

At one point in the first half, the Sea Warriors (10-12, 6-3) scored 25 unanswered points and eventually led 39-25 at the break.

Hopkins also contributed 16 rebounds for Hawaii Pacific, while Stacey Haddow finished with 23 points to lead the Antelopes, who were previously unbeaten in the PacWest.

» On the men's side, Hawaii Pacific twice rallied from eight-point deficits but ended up losing 66-64 to Grand Canyon.

Jason Curtis scored 15 points to lead the Sea Warriors (9-10, 3-6).

» Amanda Adams scorched the net for 30 points and went 14-for-15 from the charity stripe to lead Hawaii-Hilo over Brigham Young-Hawaii 78-71 yesterday in a nonconference game in Hilo.

Trailing by double digits for most of the game, the Seasiders made a furious comeback and came within three points with 55 seconds remaining before falling short.

Latoya Wily scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the losing effort.

Plunkett, Kessell nab preseason picks

Hawaii Pacific seniors Krystal Plunkett and Courtney Kessell were picked as preseason player and pitcher of the year, respectively, yesterday by the PacWest.

The Sea Warriors were picked to finish first in the seven-team league. Hawaii-Hilo was picked third, with Brigham Young-Hawaii sitting in fifth and Chaminade in sixth.

Hawaii Pacific also had the strongest presence on the preseason All-PacWest team with five players.

Hawaii Pacific suffers first loss

After losing the first game 3-1, Hawaii Pacific managed a split with Simon Fraser (British Columbia) with a 2-0 victory in game two of a women's softball doubleheader in Kaneohe yesterday.

In the first game, The Clan's Stefani Durrant hit a two-run double to break a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth that proved to be the game-winner.

In game two, junior Sherise Musquiz pitched seven innings of shutout ball, allowing only three hits and striking out two to earn the win for the Sea Warriors (5-1).

Hawaii Pacific plays a doubleheader against conference rival Brigham Young-Hawaii on Saturday.

BYU-Hawaii cruises to tennis victory

Second-ranked Brigham Young-Hawaii crushed Academy of Art 9-0 in a women's tennis match in Phoenix yesterday.

The Seasiders' top three singles players, Elwen Li, Yuan Jia and Jenny Chin, cruised to victories over their opponents.

In doubles, BYU-Hawaii teams defeated their Academy of Art counterparts 8-1 in three consecutive matches.

» Also in Phoenix, Chaminade (1-2) fell to Grand Canyon 6-3. Silverswords senior Audra Takara won her match in the No. 2 singles slot.

» In men's tennis, BYU-Hawaii defeated Grand Canyon 7-2. The Seasiders picked up wins in their top five singles and top two doubles slots.