HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team honored its 2018-19 season with its annual awards banquet at the Ala Moana Hotel on Wednesday night.
 
Senior guard Tia Kanoa was given the team's highest honor as the recipient of the Ah Chew Goo Most Valuable Team Player Award. Kanoa capped off her senior campaign by being appointed as a team captain along with fellow senior guard Rachel Odumu last summer. Throughout the year she served as both a vocal leader and a player who led by example.
 
"The Ah Chew Goo award is our Most Valuable Team Player Award," said head coach Laura Beeman. "Watching Tia (Kanoa) grow as a player and a young woman throughout our season was incredibly rewarding.  The opportunity to coach her and watch her embrace the responsibility of being back home, in front of her family and friends, representing the state of Hawaii was a thrill for both of us. She follows in the footsteps of many other amazing Rainbow Wahine players to have won this award."
 
Kanoa was the only Rainbow Wahine player to start all 32 games this season. She was the only UH player to receive a weekly honor from the Big West Conference this season and was also selected as a member of the All-Conference Second Team. Kanoa stayed consistent from beginning to end as she averaged seven points, four assists, and three rebounds per game. Most notably Kanoa left a mark on the program due to her career numbers in terms of assists. By averaging 5.0 assists per game over the last two season, she finished No. 1 overall in the record books.
 
Beeman and her coaching staff handed out several awards throughout the night. Junior guard Courtney Middap was named the most improved player; sophomore guard Jadynn Alexander claimed the defensive award, and freshman post player Myrrah Joseph was appointed as the Rookie of the Year.
 
All three will play important roles next season as Middap will return as the team's leading scorer at just over eight points per game, as well as its top three-point threat at 40 percent from beyond the arc. Joseph proved her value in the first year of her career stepping into an essential role in the post at the start of February. While Alexander, averaged 14 minutes a game off the bench in 32 games, usually guarding opposing teams top backcourt threat.
 
Wrapping up the night of celebration was junior guard Savannah Reier as she was awarded the team's academic award.
 
2018-19 Award Winners
Ah Chew Goo Most Valuable Team Player: Tia Kanoa
Most Improved Player Award: Courtney Middap
Defensive Player Award: Jadynn Alexander
Rookie of the Year Award: Myrrah Joseph
Academic Award: Savannah Reier