Olivia Crawford went from scoring 22.1 points per game last year to 3.3 this season.

That’s common when a high school senior becomes a college freshman. But it usually also means a transition from superstar to bench-sitter. Individual statistics, though, are useless when measuring Crawford’s contributions to the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team as it prepares for Friday’s semifinals of the Big West Tournament.

Crawford’s numbers are strikingly unremarkable. You have to see her play to understand her value — which is substantial — as UH’s starting point guard.

Think of her as a conductor, one who rarely picks up an instrument herself for a solo. “I love it when my teammates score,” she said. “I’m actually more excited when they score.”

Crawford’s understanding of tempo, taking care of the basketball, defense and getting her team into its offense is rare — not just for a college freshman, but for any point guard.

In early January, few would predict Crawford playing much in March, much less starting … and there were questions regarding UH’s readiness for conference play. The Wahine were 7-5 and Crawford was 2-for-19 from the floor, playing about 10 minutes per game coming off the bench.

So Laura Beeman did what any good coach would: She crumpled up the stat sheet and trusted her eyes and instincts. She put the freshman into the starting lineup. That’s where she’s been since, and Hawaii is 12-5, including 12-4 in the Big West when Crawford’s name is announced before tip-off.

“(The slump) didn’t shake my confidence,” Crawford said in a phone interview as the Wahine headed to practice Tuesday at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif. “I knew we had players on this team that had my back and we would score. In high school if I didn’t score, we didn’t score.

“Knowing the coaches trusted me to start at point guard made a big difference,” she added.

Senior guard Destiny King had faith in her, too. She’d been down the same path, as a freshman starter, sometimes running the show.

“She just needed to calm down and not be so hard on herself,” King said. “You get thrown into games against good teams and over time your confidence grows.”

When King and others are gone in future seasons, UH will need Crawford to score. But, for now …

“She has to remain patient with herself,” Beeman said. “That’s her biggest challenge. When she lets the game come to her she’s fine. She has a beautiful shot, but now she facilitates for the team. She’s all about doing what the team needs.”

Crawford was a second-team all-stater at Lakes High in Lakewood, Wash., but Beeman was scouting a different player at a tournament in Las Vegas when she noticed the 5-foot-5 guard.

It was meant to be. Olivia was born in North Carolina, but lived in the Red Hill area for three years as a young child when her parents, Matthew and Penny, were both stationed here in the Army. Her brother, also named Matthew, played football at Mililani High and recently graduated from UH.

“We’re overjoyed,” Penny Crawford said. “She’s always considered Hawaii home and loved it there, so it was a natural progression for her. We all love Hawaii.”

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.