ISLE FILE
HPU hires O'Brien as basketball coach
Advertiser Staff
Elizabeth O'Brien, a former member of the University of Hawai'i coaching staff, has been named head coach of Hawaii Pacific's inaugural women's basketball program.
"I'm really excited about this opportunity at Hawai'i Pacific," O'Brien said. "HPU has a lot to offer and I'm looking forward to being a part of the community, and providing the local talent a chance to stay home to further their education and play basketball at the NCAA Division II level."
O'Brien, who played basketball and soccer at Hofstra University before earning a degree in marketing, brings more than 10 years of NCAA coaching experience to HPU.
"We have found a coach who has the experience, energy and enthusiasm not only to create this team, but also make it competitive from the start," said HPU athletic director Jill Ward.
O'Brien was assistant coach at Army before serving as Director of Basketball Operations at UH last season.
SURFING
ISLANDERS ADVANCE
Three Hawai'i surfers advanced and three others were eliminated during the third day of competition of the Rip Curl Pro yesterday at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.
Andy Irons, Bruce Irons and Pancho Sullivan advanced to the fourth round with victories yesterday.
Andy Irons had the best heat of the day, receiving scores of 9.6 (out of 10) and 8.17 for a two-wave total of 17.77 in his win over Australian Ben Dunn.
Bruce Irons beat California's Tim Reyes, 15.17-9.0.
Sullivan ousted two Hawai'i surfers yesterday, beating Roy Powers in the second round and then Fred Patacchia Jr. in the third round. Sullivan had a near-perfect wave of 9.5 in his victory over Patacchia.
Mililani's Kekoa Bacalso was eliminated in the third round by world champion Kelly Slater of Florida.
WATER POLO
UH EDGES LMU, 6-5
All-American Iefke Van Belkum scored two goals, including the clincher with 1:43 to play, as No. 5 Hawai'i beat No. 4 Loyola Marymount, 6-5, yesterday in a non-conference women's water polo match at Los Angeles.
Kelly Mason also scored two goals and Meike De Nooy made nine saves for the Rainbow Wahine, who improved to 12-8 and snapped the Lions' 13-match winning streak.
Rosanna Tomiuk and Katie Hicks scored two goals apiece for LMU (22-4).
Hawai'i plays at No. 1 USC (22-0) today.
TRACK AND FIELD
WICHMANN PULLS OUT
University of Hawai'i sophomore Annett Wichmann, who led the heptathlon after the first round, withdrew from the final day of the California Invitational Multi-Events yesterday because of a virus.
Michigan's Bettie Wade, who trailed Wichmann by 10 points after day one, won the event with 5,147 points.
UH sophomore Mallory Gilbert placed 24th with a season-best 4,049 points.
Meanwhile, the rest of the UH team competed in the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
One day after qualifying for the NCAA Regionals in the pole vault at the Cal State Los Angeles Twilight Open, sophomore Patricia Gauthier made standard again by clearing 12-5 1/2 to finish in a tie for third.
