D-III national title is in Dacanay's sights

Washington (Mo.) University's Shanna-Lei Dacanay (Punahou '05) came to school hearing all about its run of four straight women's basketball national titles from 1998 to 2001.

Now she's two wins away from being part of one herself.

The senior point guard is in Holland, Mich., for today's game against Amherst in the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Bears advanced to the final four with a stunning win over No. 1 seed and previously undefeated Illinois Wesleyan last Saturday in Bloomington, Ill.

“;I don't think there's anybody who would have picked us (to be) sitting up here right now,”; Washington coach Nancy Fahey said at yesterday's press conference. “;At the beginning of the year, I just (said) 'Give us a chance.'”;

The Bears (25-4) are on a 14-game win streak, last losing to the University of Rochester (N.Y.) on Jan. 23.

Dacanay has seen her playing time diminish her senior season, averaging just 18.4 minutes a contest after starting all 27 games last year. She still has managed to lead the team with 110 assists, and her 4.6 assist-to-turnover ratio is tops in the country. Her 317 career assists are third-most in school history and she is two assists away from cracking the top 10 in most assists in one season.

Should the Bears win, they would play for their fifth national title tomorrow at 7 a.m. Hawaii time.

» UNLV freshman Jamie Smith ('Iolani '08) finished with nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a block, but the Lady Rebels saw their season come to an end with a 71-63 loss to San Diego State in the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference tournament in Las Vegas.

» Holy Names (Calif.) ended its season with a 93-72 loss to Sterling (Kan.) in the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament last Thursday. Sophomore Jamie Ronolo (Moanalua '07) finished with eight points and senior Chelsie Kadota (Roosevelt '05) chipped in seven points. Freshman Britni Ronolo (Moanalua '08) added five points and junior Larissa Nakasone (Roosevelt '05) finished with six assists and four points.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

» Michael Makinano (Campbell '08), a freshman at Reddley Junior College, finished with seven points and two steals in 14 minutes in a 62-56 loss to No. 1 seed Saddleback (Calif.) Community College in the quarterfinals of the California Junior College Championships.

MEN'S GOLF

» Pacific (Ore.) sophomore Max Bonk (Hawaii Prep '07) battled less-than-ideal weather conditions to win the Pacific Invitational on Saturday at North Plains, Ore. Bonk shot a final-round 74 to capture his third consecutive tournament.

WOMEN'S GOLF

» Puget Sound sophomore Natalie Nakamine (Roosevelt '07) shot 88 to finish in first at the weather-shortened Pacific Invitational in North Plains, Ore., on Saturday. Pacific (Ore.) sophomore Valerie Kitamori (Waiakea '07) finished in fifth with a 94. Boxers junior Jasmine Ching (Waiakea '06) finished in a six-way tie for sixth place with a 97 and sophomore Tami Park (Waiakea '07) finished tied for 31st with a 109.

SOFTBALL

» New Mexico State sophomore Hoku Nohara (Kamehameha '07) went 4-for-6 with a double and two RBIs in two games against No. 12 Arizona on Wednesday. Nohara, who plays both catcher and first base, is hitting .415 this season with eight home runs and 27 RBIs.

» California sophomore Sanoe Kekahuna (Baldwin '07) hit her first two home runs of the season and finished 4-for-11 with four RBIs and a stolen base in the rain-shortened Hawaii Invitational last weekend at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The Golden Bears finished 4-0 in the tournament.

» Eastern Kentucky junior third baseman Sheyenne Hussey (Kailua '06) finished 2-for-6 with a run and an RBI in a doubleheader split against Morehead State on Tuesday. Hussey has started 16 games this season and is third on the team with a .286 batting average with two home runs and 11 RBIs. Sophomore DeAnn Horswill (Kalaheo '07) has appeared in 10 games, going 2-for-7 with three RBIs.