Wahine Nos. 8 and 13 in polls

The Hawaii softball team’s remarkable run last spring contributed to unprecedented preseason recognition leading into the coming season.

The Rainbow Wahine, coming off the school’s first Women’s College World Series appearance, is ranked eighth in the USA Today/NFCA preseason softball poll and No. 13 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll, the highest preseason rankings in the program’s history.

"It’s great for the players on the team that they have garnered that recognition," UH head coach Bob Coolen said. "It’s a tribute to the players."

UH, 50-16 last season, was ranked seventh in both final polls. The Wahine return the top five hitters to a lineup that led the nation in scoring and set an NCAA record with 158 home runs as well as both starting pitchers in Stephanie Ricketts (30-10) and Kaia Parnaby (19-6).

UH’s schedule features 10 teams that advanced to the NCAA tournament last season and five teams ranked in the preseason polls in Oklahoma, California, Oregon, Stanford and BYU.

UH opens against Southern Utah on Feb. 10 in the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.

Defending national champion UCLA tops the USA Today/NFCA poll. Arizona is No. 1 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.

Sea Warriors capture 11th straight

Jazzmin Awa-Williams scored a game-high 18 points and Courtney Buster added 11 points and 11 rebounds as the Hawaii Pacific women’s basketball team won its 11th consecutive game last night, defeating Pacific West Conference opponent Notre Dame de Namur 71-54 in Belmont, Calif.

Skye Savini came off the bench for 12 points for the Sea Warriors (12-3, 6-0 PacWest) against the Argos (6-10, 3-4).

Vulcan women lose on road

Hillary Hurley scored a game-high 21 points, but it was not enough as Hawaii-Hilo dropped its PacWest women’s basketball contest 70-62 to Academy of Art in San Francisco last night.

The Vulcans (7-7, 3-3) trailed by as many as 11 before Kirsty Imai’s 3-pointer brought UHH to within 68-62 with 40 seconds left. AAU (5-11, 3-4) iced it with two free throws. Imai finished with 12 points and Phylicia Schultz added 10.

Hawaii Pacific men snap skid

Royal Edwards scored 14 points and LaBrent Chappell hit all 10 of his free-throw attempts to lead Hawaii Pacific past Notre Dame de Namur in a PacWest men’s basketball game last night in Belmont, Calif.

Chappell finished with 14 points and Jason Jackson added 12 rebounds for the Sea Warriors (8-10, 3-3), who had lost their last two games in overtime. The Argos dropped to 3-14 and 1-6.

Vulcans fall short on road

Keith Davis scored the game-winning layup with four seconds left as Academy of Art pulled out a 66-64 victory over Hawaii-Hilo in a PacWest men’s basketball game in San Francisco.

Justin Smith scored 15 points for the Vulcans (12-5, 4-2 PacWest) against the Urban Knights (5-12, 2-5).