HONOLULU, HI (November 28, 2013) -- The bar was raised in 2012-13 for the Hawai`i Pacific Women's Basketball Team. The HPU women were consistently regionally ranked, won a school record 19 games, and earned the #1 seed in the Pacific West Conference Tournament. PacWest Conference Coach of the Year Reid Takatsuka has a senior laden club that could make a push for the PacWest crown in 2013-2014

Fair Winds and Following Seas
The Sea Warriors look to replace Susannah Walmsley, Melody Ladrido and Heidi Anton. Walmsley and Ladrido each earned All-PacWest honors last season and were the Sea Warriors top two scorers. Walmsley also finished second on the team in rebounding and leaves HPU with the school record for assist-to-turnover ratio.

While not a starter, Ladrido was Takatsuka's spark off the bench last season. Averaging 15.8 points and a pair of assists per game, HPU's "sixth man" shot over 53% percent from the field.

Anton played just one year for the Columbia Blue and Kelly Green, but made a big impact. A solid all-around athlete, Anton averaged 8.4 points, 3.5 assists and five rebounds in 30 minutes per game.  The San Francisco native is now playing with one of the top professional teams in the Danish Premiere League.

Strong Season Leads to Strong Recruiting Class
Coach Takatsuka brings in a talented recruiting class with a mix of transfers and freshman.

Laken McClelland comes to HPU by way of Skagit Valley College where she earned Most Valuable Player of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Conference. The 5'11 wing averaged 18 points and eight rebounds per game as a sophomore.

Takatsuka also recruited size in the offseason bringing in a pair of 6'2 post players in Morganne Comstock and Danika Johnson.

Comstock was highly recruited out of high school and comes to HPU from Division I Eastern Washington. The Seattle native took a red shirt her first year and had her season cut short by injury a year ago at EWU.

Johnson transfers to HPU from North Idaho College where she led the Cardinals to an appearance in the NJCAA National Tournament.

Lauren Nicolosi, who signed during the early signing period last year, brings additional size to the front court at 6'0. Nicolosi averaged 8.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a senior at Carondelet High School.

Hannah Reynolds joins the team with a strong high school resume. As a senior at Mazama High School, she earned Skyline Conference Player of the Year, Oregon School Activities Association 4A Player of the Year and was the Oregon recipient of the Wendy's High School Heisman.

Leaning on Six Seniors
Despite losing a lot in talent and leadership in Anton, Walmsley and Ladrido, Takasuka returns a deep group of seniors.

Skye Savini earned Second Team All-PacWest a season ago and was name to the PacWest Preseason Team this year. In her junior campaign she averaged 13.4 points and 7.3 rebounds while leading the team with 20 blocks.

Loren Gurrola and Brittany Hale were key for Takatsuka a year ago and both will vie for minutes again at the point. Gurrola started 10 games and averaged 13 minutes while Hale started 11 games and averaged 12 minutes last season.

Ieva Nagy returns on the wing where she provides size and a deadly shot from beyond the arc. The Australian shot nearly 47% from distance during PacWest play while also pulling down five boards a game.

Last season's leading rebounder Mikela Thoemmes provides experience in the front court after averaging nine points and 7.3 rebounds per game a year ago. Thoemmes was strong down the stretch for HPU, earning PacWest Player of the Week honors in late February.

Shianne Solomon is also a senior returning for Takatsuka who saw action in 17 games a year ago. The 5'7 guard averaged three points per game and was a perfect 12 of 12 from the line.

Coach Takatsuka discussed the importance of his seniors.

"It is difficult to replace the talent and leadership we lost last year with Susi and Bing being All-PacWest and Heidi going pro, but we have a strong group of seniors that have been here awhile to help put it all together."

HPU may also look for contributions from a pair of underclassman returners.

Sophomore Veanne Navarro played well in limited action a season ago, scoring 50 points and adding 12 assists in just 141 minutes of work. As a freshman she shot over 50% from floor hitting 25 of her 49 shots.

Ingvild Skorpen joins the team after running in the 2013 NCAA West Regional Cross Country meet in early November. The Norwegian freshman red-shirted last season and has been working hard to get in "basketball shape."

A Look Ahead
The Sea Warriors kick off their schedule late this year, this time on Thanksgiving Day, against Oklahoma Christian in the Oahu Classic. The next day they will face Lubbock Christian who has received votes in the top 25 national poll.

HPU then jumps right into PacWest play with three games against island rivals UH Hilo, Chaminade and BYU-Hawaii December 4th, 7th and 14th respectively.

The Sea Warriors then head to Ellensburg, Washington for a quick two-game series against Central Washington on the 16th and 17th before returning to Oahu for the HPU Classic held in Bloch Arena at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base.

After the New Year, PacWest play ramps up again starting with a huge contest against Academy of Art on January 4th. The tilt is a rematch of the 2013 PacWest Championship.

HPU will host Dixie State, Point Loma and Chaminade before heading back to the mainland for the Bay Area portion of its schedule.

The beginning of February will see PacWest contenders Azusa Pacific and California Baptist come to Oahu before the Sea Warriors turn around and face them on the road in mid-February.

Hawaii Pacific closes the regular season with a pair of home games against Notre Dame de Namur and Fresno Pacific before a quick stop on the Big Island to face UH Hilo in the season finale.

Wide Open Race
Despite earning the top seed and an appearance in the PacWest Championship game a season ago, the PacWest coaches picked the Sea Warriors to finish fourth in the PacWest in this seasons Predicted Order of Finish. HPU did earn two first place votes however, with Academy of Art (6), Azusa Pacific (3) and California Baptist (2) being the other schools to earn first place votes.

A year ago the coaches picked Hawai'i Pacific to finish sixth in the league before they went on to set the school record for wins and make an appearance in the PacWest Championship game.

"I'm excited to see our team hit the floor and get some game action. They've been practicing hard and playing against each other for a couple weeks now and I'm anxious to see them get a chance to matchup against other teams," said Takatsuka. "I think our team is in great physical shape and we'll look to get up and down the floor all season."