Holy Names University - Hawk Pride! Hawk Power!
We soar above it all!
Hawks earn trip to national tournament with 75-74 win
Three players score in double figures for the Hawks.
February 28, 2009
HAYWARD, Calif - In a matchup between No. 1 seed Holy Names University and No. 2 seed Menlo College and an automatic berth to the National Tournament on the line, the Holy Names University women’s basketball team held on to win 75-74 against the Oaks. In a physical and intense match up that lived up to every expectation of a championship game, Holy Names (24-8) earned their second consecutive Cal Pac Conference Tournament Championship and qualifies for the NAIA national tournament being held March 11-17, at the Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.
Menlo’s Kelci Fushikoshi had a game-high 35 points in a losing effort. For the Hawks, Freshman Britni Ronolo had 22 points (8 for 13) and 6 rebounds. Senior, Raquel Hyche had 16 points and 3 rebounds, and Sophomore Sarah Henning had 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. Junior point guard Larisa Nakasone had a game high 6 assists to go along with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Liz Widgren had a team-high 8 rebounds and 6 points.
The game was a back and forth battle despite Menlo opening up the game 7-0 in just the opening minute. HNU took its first lead of the game at 9-7 when Junai Dawson tracked down the offensive rebound and scored on the put back with 16:50 remaining. A few possessions later at the 14:48 mark, Dawson was fouled on the shot after pursuing another offensive board and hit the floor hard and momentarily lost consciousness. The Senior all-conference player would not return for the remainder of the game as she was carried off the floor and taken to the hospital for further examination.
The Hawks were able to tie it back up 19 to 19 with 10:09 left on a Henning jumper. Each team continued to trade baskets for the remainder of the half and with a layup by Nakasone with 45 seconds left the Hawks were able to go into halftime down by two: 36-34.
Menlo shot 42% for the first half compared to HNU’s 33%. The Oaks also had the slim rebounding margin 24 to 23, though HNU held the edge on the offensive glass (11 to 9). Holy Names was able to make it to the free throw line twice as many times as Menlo, connecting on 9 for 12.
The second half opened up with Ronolo grabbing an offensive board and making the shot while she was fouled. The Freshman post was able to convert the three point play and give the Hawks their first lead of the second half, 37 to 36. The lead continued to change hands for the next 15 minutes and Jamie Ronolo was able to knock down a three with 4:11 left to give the Hawks a four point lead, 67-63.
With 3:06 remaining Britni Ronolo knocked down two free throws to give the Hawks their largest lead of the game 69-63. Two free throws by Henning with 46.4 seconds remaining allowed the Hawks to hold onto the 73-68 lead. An ill-advised foul by the Hawks in the backcourt with 45.4 seconds sent Menlo to the line to shoot two foul shots. The Oaks connected on both to bring the score to 73-70. Following a time out the Hawks drew up a play to get the ball down to the younger Ronolo, who was able to kiss the ball off the glass and give the Hawks a five point cushion with 20 seconds left in the game.
Menlo was able to then cut the lead to three with 11.1 seconds remaining. Menlo fouled on the resulting inbounds sending the Hawks to shoot two free throws with 9.6 seconds and the 75-72 lead. Holy Names was unable to finish either free throw attempt giving Menlo the ball where they scored bringing the score to 75-74 with 2.2 seconds left. The Oaks fouled again with 1.3 seconds and HNU was again unable to hit either free throw, but by the time Menlo tracked down the rebound the clock expired and the game was over.
Holy Names’ bench depth proved too much for the Oaks to handle as the Hawks generated 42 points from its non-starters compared to Menlo’s 17. Holy Names turned around the rebounding deficit at the half into a 48 to 42 advantage at the end of 40 minutes. HNU had 21 offensive boards compared to Menlo’s 15. Despite Menlo out shooting Holy Names 42% to 36% from the floor, the Hawks shot 14 more free throws, which proved to be the difference in the win.
The conference tournament win marks the second year in a row the team has won both the regular season championship as well as the tournament championship game. In addition, this will be the Hawks 10th trip to the National Tournament.
The Hawks, who are currently ranked No. 21 in the country, have one final chance to move up when the final national rankings are released on March 4th. HNU will find out who they will be matched up against on Thursday March 5th when the tournament bracket is released. They will play their first round game on either March 11 or March 12.
For the most up to date information on the NAIA Division II national tournament stay logged onto www.naia.org.
February 28, 2009
HAYWARD, Calif - In a matchup between No. 1 seed Holy Names University and No. 2 seed Menlo College and an automatic berth to the National Tournament on the line, the Holy Names University women’s basketball team held on to win 75-74 against the Oaks. In a physical and intense match up that lived up to every expectation of a championship game, Holy Names (24-8) earned their second consecutive Cal Pac Conference Tournament Championship and qualifies for the NAIA national tournament being held March 11-17, at the Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.
Menlo’s Kelci Fushikoshi had a game-high 35 points in a losing effort. For the Hawks, Freshman Britni Ronolo had 22 points (8 for 13) and 6 rebounds. Senior, Raquel Hyche had 16 points and 3 rebounds, and Sophomore Sarah Henning had 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block. Junior point guard Larisa Nakasone had a game high 6 assists to go along with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Liz Widgren had a team-high 8 rebounds and 6 points.
The game was a back and forth battle despite Menlo opening up the game 7-0 in just the opening minute. HNU took its first lead of the game at 9-7 when Junai Dawson tracked down the offensive rebound and scored on the put back with 16:50 remaining. A few possessions later at the 14:48 mark, Dawson was fouled on the shot after pursuing another offensive board and hit the floor hard and momentarily lost consciousness. The Senior all-conference player would not return for the remainder of the game as she was carried off the floor and taken to the hospital for further examination.
The Hawks were able to tie it back up 19 to 19 with 10:09 left on a Henning jumper. Each team continued to trade baskets for the remainder of the half and with a layup by Nakasone with 45 seconds left the Hawks were able to go into halftime down by two: 36-34.
Menlo shot 42% for the first half compared to HNU’s 33%. The Oaks also had the slim rebounding margin 24 to 23, though HNU held the edge on the offensive glass (11 to 9). Holy Names was able to make it to the free throw line twice as many times as Menlo, connecting on 9 for 12.
The second half opened up with Ronolo grabbing an offensive board and making the shot while she was fouled. The Freshman post was able to convert the three point play and give the Hawks their first lead of the second half, 37 to 36. The lead continued to change hands for the next 15 minutes and Jamie Ronolo was able to knock down a three with 4:11 left to give the Hawks a four point lead, 67-63.
With 3:06 remaining Britni Ronolo knocked down two free throws to give the Hawks their largest lead of the game 69-63. Two free throws by Henning with 46.4 seconds remaining allowed the Hawks to hold onto the 73-68 lead. An ill-advised foul by the Hawks in the backcourt with 45.4 seconds sent Menlo to the line to shoot two foul shots. The Oaks connected on both to bring the score to 73-70. Following a time out the Hawks drew up a play to get the ball down to the younger Ronolo, who was able to kiss the ball off the glass and give the Hawks a five point cushion with 20 seconds left in the game.
Menlo was able to then cut the lead to three with 11.1 seconds remaining. Menlo fouled on the resulting inbounds sending the Hawks to shoot two free throws with 9.6 seconds and the 75-72 lead. Holy Names was unable to finish either free throw attempt giving Menlo the ball where they scored bringing the score to 75-74 with 2.2 seconds left. The Oaks fouled again with 1.3 seconds and HNU was again unable to hit either free throw, but by the time Menlo tracked down the rebound the clock expired and the game was over.
Holy Names’ bench depth proved too much for the Oaks to handle as the Hawks generated 42 points from its non-starters compared to Menlo’s 17. Holy Names turned around the rebounding deficit at the half into a 48 to 42 advantage at the end of 40 minutes. HNU had 21 offensive boards compared to Menlo’s 15. Despite Menlo out shooting Holy Names 42% to 36% from the floor, the Hawks shot 14 more free throws, which proved to be the difference in the win.
The conference tournament win marks the second year in a row the team has won both the regular season championship as well as the tournament championship game. In addition, this will be the Hawks 10th trip to the National Tournament.
The Hawks, who are currently ranked No. 21 in the country, have one final chance to move up when the final national rankings are released on March 4th. HNU will find out who they will be matched up against on Thursday March 5th when the tournament bracket is released. They will play their first round game on either March 11 or March 12.
For the most up to date information on the NAIA Division II national tournament stay logged onto www.naia.org.
Comment
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Michael Miller on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of Holy Names University - Hawk Pride! Hawk Power! to add comments!
Join this Ning Network