IRVINE, Calif. -- A light week in PacWest women’s basketball contained three wins in all three scheduled contests as the PacWest improved to 26-16 overall in non-conference play during the first month of the season with four teams holding undefeated records.
Hawai`i Hilo became the fourth team to start the season undefeated after recording a 52-42 victory in its season opener against Multnomah. The Vulcans currently lead the nation in scoring defense following the win.
Biola and Point Loma also collected wins on Saturday as both teams improved to 3-2. There are now five PacWest teams with at least three wins this season.
This week, the season gets back into full swing with several important contests, starting on Tuesday. Azusa Pacific will host Cal State Dominguez Hills, which is one of the only teams to have recorded multiple wins against PacWest teams. Holy Names will look for its first win of the season against Sonoma State and Fresno Pacific will host Stanislaus State.
On Wednesday, Concordia will face Cal Poly Pomona, which is currently ranked sixth in the West Region. That isn’t the only battle between a PacWest team and a regionally-ranked team as Chaminade faces Cal State San Marcos on Friday in Honolulu. Notre Dame will also face a regionally-ranked team in Humboldt State on Saturday night. The biggest contest of the week will be when No. 4 Hawai`i Pacific and No. 5 UC San Diego square off in Honolulu at 5 p.m.
Weekly awards for the week of Nov. 18-24
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Allie Navarette, Hawai`i Hilo
F/C, Jr., 6-0 -- Torrance, Calif.
Navarette recorded a double-double in her first game of the season, leading Hawai`i Hilo to a 52-42 victory over Multnomah. Navarette scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds. She made 6 of 8 free throw attempts in the season-opening victory to start her junior season. Navarette played in all but three minutes of the victory that made Hawai`i Hilo the national leader in scoring defense, field-goal defense and 3-point field-goal defense. It is the least points that Hawai`i Hilo has allowed in a game since January 2013.
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Onjalise Carley-Hilliard, Point Loma
F, Sr., 6-0 -- San Diego
Carley-Hilliard helped Point Loma record a homecoming victory over Walla Walla on Saturday to help Point Loma improve to 3-2 on the season. Carley-Hilliard recorded 14 points with five rebounds in the victory for the Sea Lions. She also had two blocks and three steals. The senior’s defense in the key helped hold Walla Walla to just 46 points. In the second half, Carley-Hilliard helped hold Walla Walla to a 3-for-7 performance on two-point attempts. Point Loma outscored Walla Walla 26-5 in the fourth quarter.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Stephanie Lee, Biola
G, Fr., 5-10 -- San Marcos, Calif.
Lee scored in double figures for the second time in her career on Saturday, helping Biola defeat Hope International to improve to 3-2 on the season with three-consecutive wins. Lee continued her strong shooting performance during her freshman campaign with a 3-for-4 effort from beyond the arc. She finished the game 4 for 6 in field goals for 11 points with a career-high four rebounds, while adding two assists and two steals in the victory.