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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team celebrated its momentous season during its annual banquet on Sunday at the Ala Moana Hotel's Hibisicus Ballroom. Senior Shawna-Lei Kuehu took home several awards, including for the second straight season, the Ah Chew Goo Award—the program's most prestigious individual award.
 
The 2015 Big West Conference regular season champions finished the season with an overall record of 23-9 and a league-best 14-2 mark. It was the first conference title since 1997-98 and fourth overall conference title in program history (three in the Big West and one in the Western Athletic Conference). The 'Bows started the conference season with a pair of road losses, but then went on to reel off 15-straight wins en route to the regular season crown and a spot in the BWC championship game. UH appeared in its third consecutive post-season in the WNIT.
 
Hawai'i had many milestone accomplishments this season, including...
-It is just the second time in UH history that they've seen action in three-straight postseasons. The Rainbow Wahine went to four-straight WNIT's in 2000, '01, '02, and '03).
-UH notched over 20 wins this season for the first time since 2001-02 with 23 total wins this year. Hawai'i now has hit the 20-win mark 13 times in school history.
-The team's 15-game win streak was the longest during head coach Laura Beeman's three-year tenure. It's the longest streak since UH won 19-straight in the 1997-98 season.
-UH's 15-game win streak is the fifth longest in program history. UH won 19-straight games twice in 1992-93 and 1997-98. The 'Bows won 18-consecutive games in 1993-94 and 16-straight in 1995-96.
-Hawai'i went undefeated in conference at home and has a 15-game home conference win streak dating back to the 2013-14 season going into next year. UH has now gone undefeated in conference seven times (1989-90, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1997-98, 1999-200, 2014-15), the first six times were under head coach Vince Goo.
-Kuehu became the 18th player in UH history to join the 1,000 point club and the 10th member of the 1,000 point/500 rebound club as well. She finished her stellar career ranked No. 7 in UH's all-time scoring record book with 1,245 points and No. 8 in career rebounds with 645. She also is No. 6 in career blocked shots (125); No. 9 in steals (161); No. 10 in offensive rebounds (186) and No. 6 in defensive rebounds (459). The sixth-year senior also ends her career ranked No. 1 in games played with 125 from 2010-2015).
 
The banquet recognized and celebrated the many achievements both as a team and individually during the epic season. Both Governor David Ige and University of Hawai'i Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman attended the banquet and opened the event by saying a few words. Ige presented head coach Laura Beeman with a special proclimation in honor of the achievements of the Rainbow Wahine basketball team this season.

Morgan Mason and Destiny King both received their Big West Player of the Week honors to start the evening's program. The coaches then gave out all-conference hardware to King (all-conference honorable mention); Megan Huff (Big West Sixth Player of the Year Award, all-freshman team, and BWC all-tournament team); Ashleigh Karaitiana (all-conference second team); and Kuehu (all-conference first team and BWC all-tournament team honors). The final conference award was given to Beeman for being voted the Big West's Coach of the Year. It is just the fourth time that a UH women's basketball coach has received the award--former head coach Vince Goo earned it three times in 1989, '93, and '94.
 
Kuehu, Karaitiana, and Mason were then all given special gifts from the coaches for serving as exemplary team captains for guiding the 2014-15 team to the conference title and their third consecutive post-season appearance.
 
The coaches followed by presenting their team awards. First, Kuehu was honored with her second-straight "Most Valuable Team Player" award as voted on by her teammates. Kuehu led UH averaging 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. She also finished the year with team-highs in assists (88), steals (42), and blocked shots (41). Kuehu made a team-high 141 field goals in 297 attempts and a team-high 86 free throws in 124 attempts—all career-high marks. She also pulled down a career-high 190 rebounds (55 offensive and 135 defensive—both career-highs). Kuehu scored the three highest point totals for UH this season, including a career-high 29 points vs. #14 California (11/21/14); 28 points vs. # 11 North Carolina (11/30/14), and 26 against Pacific (12/31/14).
 
Mason received the team's Academic Award after earned the highest cumulative GPA on the squad. Mason appeared in 27 games this season but missed four games late in the season due to injury. She finished the year averaging 8.0 points and 3.7 rebounds with a career-high 65 assists and 24 steals.
 
For the second straight year, Karaitiana was named the team's "Hustle Award" winner. The Hamilton, New Zealand-native took over 20 charges on defense and was always hustling on the court. She appeared in all 31 games this season and played a career-high 929 minutes which averages to team-high 30.0 minutes per game. Karaitiana finishes her three-years at Hawai'i ranked No. 8 in the UH career record book with 101 made 3-pointers; No. 5 with 318 3-point field goal attempts; and No. 10 playing 27.7 minutes per game.
 
The banquet culminated with former UH All-American Nani Cockett presenting the Ah Chew Goo Achievement Award on behalf of the Goo family to Kuehu for the second straight season. The Goo Award is given to the player who attained "basketball excellence through dedication, determination and perseverance." Kuehu gave an emotional speech upon accepting the award. "I asked so many questions in the beginning, not to test them (the coaches) but to learn the game at a higher level," Kuehu explained.  "And one thing I can say about the coaching staff is that they answered every single one of my questions. They knew it, they knew exactly what they were trying to teach us and it's been a blessing to have this coaching staff. That's a coaching staff you're going to dive on the floor for and go to battle with. I am honored to have received this award. Sadly, I wish I could share this award with some of my teammates—Destiny King, Ashleigh Karaitiana, and Morgan Mason. You three deserve this award along with me. We built this team. This is everything we ever wanted. This is everything I wanted to see in this program. If I could share the award with all of you that would be awesome so it would be the four of us this year. We've built something that will last...to bring it back to the Nani Cockett days. That's exactly what we wanted, and we did it. We did it guys! To my teammates who still have years left to play, keep it going. We started something great this year. We've been able to play with each other and get to know one another and love each other genuinely. Keep carrying it on. The State of Hawai'i is behind you, We are all behind you…I'm an alum now and I'm behind you."

2014-15 Rainbow Wahine Award Winners
Most Valuable Team Player: Shawna-Lei Kuehu
Academic Award: Morgan Mason
Hustle Player Award: Ashleigh Karaitiana
Ah Chew Goo Achievement Award: Shawna-Lei Kuehu