Game Notes

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team opens its 2011-12 season against UH-Hilo on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Head coach Dana Takahara enters her third season with the Rainbow Wahine who are coming of two exhibition wins in which they outscored Hawai`i Pacific and BYU-Hawai`i, a combined 171-to-105.
 
Last week, Hawai'i raced past BYU-Hawai`i, 83-56 in their final exhibition game. UH scored the first 18 points of the game and never looked back. For the second straight game, four Rainbow Wahine notched double digits in points, led by sophomore transfer Kanisha Bello who sank a game-high 18 points. Chipping in 11 points a piece were point guards Alissa Campanero and Jasmine Ray. Campanero, a freshman, had a solid game across the board with four steals, three assists and six rebounds. Ray, a sophomore transfer from San Bernardino Valley College, came off the bench and also contributed three boards, an assist, a block and two steals. Posting a double-double for the 'Bows was sophomore standout Kamilah Jackson who racked up 10 points and 11 rebounds to go with her two assists and a block. It was a total team effort as all nine players who were suited up had at least five points and three rebounds.
 
The 'Bows return seven letterwinners and three starters from last year's squad that posted an 11-19 record overall and finished seventh with a 5-11 record in the Western Athletic Conference. Leading the team are sophomores Jackson and  Kuehu who were both voted to the WAC's all freshman team last year. Jackson was selected to the media preseason first-team and coaches' poll second-team. In 2010-11, she finished last season ranked fourth in the nation with 333 rebounds and averaged a team-high 11.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. Kuehu, who joined Jackson on the coaches' preseason second-team, had a solid rookie campaign averaging 5.1 rebounds and 9.4 points per game and was second on the team with 64 assists, 26 blocks, and 45 steals. Also leading UH into the 2011-12 season are seniors Breanna Arbuckle and Rebecca Dew. Arbuckle averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds a game as a junior and led UH with 38 blocked shots while Dew has averaged 2.9 rebounds and 3.4 points per game in her career.
 
The 'Bows welcome eight newcomers to the team—four transfers and four true freshmen. Three of the transfers are local products returning home from mainland colleges. Making an immediate impact for the 'Bows will be guard Bello (Hilo, Hawai'i) who is a sophomore transfer who started her collegiate career at Idaho. Bello will be eligible to play from the get go as she sat last year out. Sophomore forward Vicky Tagalicod (Hilo, Hawai'i) returned home after a stint at Southern California and will be eligible to play starting December 19, 2011 after transferring back at the end of last fall semester. Completing the local trio of local transfers is Janelle Nomura (Honolulu, O'ahu) who spent her first two seasons at CS Northridge. Nomura will sit out this year due to transfer rules. The fourth transfer is sophomore point guard Jasmine Ray from San Bernardino Valley College.
 
The four freshman include point guard Campanero, guard Malia Cravens, guard Ashleigh Karaitiana (from Australia) and duo-sport standout, Kalei Adolpho, who will join the basketball team after the women's volleyball team completes its season.
 
About UH-Hilo... 
UH-Hilo head coach David Kaneshiro enters his second year with the Vulcans. Last season UHH posted a 9-15 overall record and was 5-11 in Pac West Conference action. The team was led by pre-season PacWest Player of the Year, Hillary Hurley, who averaged 15.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last year...BUT Hurley will be unavailable for their opener as she is also the starting middle hitter on the Vulcans' volleyball team. Like UH-Manoa, UHH returns seven letterwinners while welcoming in eight newcomers.
 
The Vulcans will be led on the court by junior guard Kirsty Imai who averaged 8.7 with 71 assists last year. Joining Imai are Hotia Vaaimamao, a senior forward, averaged 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and Natalie Mata, a junior guard averaged 6.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.
 
 
GAME 1: HAWAI'I VS. UH-HILO
What: Hawai'i (0-0) vs. UH-Hilo (0-0)
Date: Friday, Nov. 11, 2011
Time: 5:00 p.m. HT (First game of doubleheader with UH men's basketball team)
Where: Stan Sheriff Center (10,300) - Honolulu, HI
Television: Live statewide on Oceanic Pay-Per-View (Digital Ch. 255) with Jim Leahey (play-by-play) and Lori Santi (color). Re-telecast on Nov. 12 at 8:00 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Ch. 12 (standard) and Ch. 1012 (HD).
Video Streaming: Live video streaming on oceanic.streaming.com
Radio: ESPN 1420 AM will carry the game live with Felipe Ojastro (play-by-play) and Tiff Wells (analyst). Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona.
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming on espn1420am.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Ticket Prices: General Admission-Adult: $7; General Admission-Senior Citizen: $5; Students (ages 4-high school): $3; UH Manoa Students receive admission to regular season home games by presenting a valid UH I.D. Ticket holders can stay to watch the men's basketball game against HPU immediately following the women's game.
Promotions: Oceanic Time Warner Cable is the game sponsor. Fans can sign up at Gate A for a chance to win great prizes from OTWC at halftime.
Coaches: Dana Takahara-Dias begins her third year at UH (21-39). UH-Hilo head coach David Kaneshiro is in his second year with the Vulcans. Last season he led UHH to a 9-15 record overall and 5-11 mark in Pac West action. In his collegiate coaching career, Kaneshiro is 71-81 in six seasons--three years at Blackburn College in Carlinville, Ill. and two years at Webster University.
Series History: Hawai`i is oficially 2-0 against it's sister school with the two wins coming in the inaugural season of the women's team in 1974-75.