By Jeff Griesch
Nebraska Athletic Communications
Bella Cravens is not afraid to take a risk in order to achieve her dreams.
The junior transfer from Laie, Hawaii chose to leave Eastern Washington after an all-conference sophomore season to continue her basketball career at Nebraska.
While a move halfway across the United States to a campus she had never visited may seem like a risky move, Cravens said she has her share of experience with leaps of faith.
"I like to jump off cliffs into the ocean for fun when I'm back home."
Just as Cravens uses her knowledge of the nuances of the waters, the winds and the waves when she makes her dives off the solid rocks in Hawaii, she gained insights into her leap to Nebraska with information from trusted sources closer to home.
"I was aware of (Assistant Football) Coach Tony Tuioti being here and that did help in my decision to come to Nebraska," Cravens said. "The Tuiotis are close family friends of mine, and we actually grew up together in the same town before they moved away. I think for my parents especially, knowing I would have them here was very comforting."
Tuioti was a defensive lineman for Hawaii from 1996 to 1999, before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Rainbow Warriors. He was also the head football coach at Kalaheo High School in 2003 and 2004. After a move to Las Vegas to pursue other high school coaching opportunities and continue his education at UNLV, Tuioti returned to Hawaii and spent six seasons as a full-time coach for the Rainbow Warriors from 2008 to 2013.
Tuioti returned to the mainland with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and 2015, before spending the 2016 season at Michigan. He also spent two seasons at Cal (2017, 2018) before joining Coach Scott Frost's staff at Nebraska.
Tony and his wife, Keala, have seven children, and that large family feeling resonates with Bella, who is the fourth of Mark and Sharlene Cravens' six children.
In addition to the strong family connection with the Tuiotis at Nebraska, Cravens also became aware of another local tie to the Huskers - volleyball player Keonilei Akana – after Cravens signed with the Big Red. The 2019 Honolulu Star-Advertiser Player of the Year, Akana was once a club volleyball teammate of Cravens.
"I know Keonilei Akana from home. We're from the same community and we even played club volleyball together for a little," Cravens said. "I didn't know that she was committed to Nebraska when I signed. I thought she was going to USC, so I didn't even think to reach out to her for her insights."
Cravens' leap to Nebraska followed a breakout sophomore season individually at Eastern Washington.
She averaged 10.4 points and a Big Sky Conference-leading 8.5 rebounds per game for the Eagles. The 6-3 forward produced six double-doubles, including a career-high 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes against Northern Arizona (Feb. 22). She hit 10-of-12 field goals against the Lumberjacks just two days after going 8-for-8 from the field against Sacramento State (Feb. 20).
Remarkably, the honorable-mention All-Big Sky selection attributed at least some of her offensive outburst late in the season to frustration.
"I was tired of losing," Cravens said. "We were having a rough season, and it was really getting to me. I remember being so frustrated. We had a really young team, only one girl had been in the program for three years, the rest of us were either in our second or first year so there wasn't much leadership. I think I just decided that I needed to step up. I thought that by improving my game I could help the team more."
During a four-game stretch (Feb. 15-27) as a sophomore, Cravens averaged 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.3 blocks and 1.8 steals while hitting 69.6 percent (32-46) of her field goal attempts. A drastic contrast from the 3.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks she averaged as a part-time starter for Eastern Washington as a true freshman in 2018-19.
While frustration may have served as a major motivator for Cravens, hard work to improve her own game and growing experience both on and off the court helped her achieve success.
"I was a lot more comfortable offensively my sophomore year compared to my freshman year," Cravens said. "I think it was because I was a lot more confident in my abilities. I had been working on it and looking to score more to better expand my game, and with the work came success and confidence."
While her offensive growth gained headlines and accolades for Cravens, she knows that defense and rebounding are the foundation of her own game. Last season, Cravens ranked No. 66 in NCAA Division I with 1.7 blocks per game, while ranking No. 92 nationally with 8.5 rebounds.
"I feel that my biggest strengths on the basketball court are rebounding and defense," Cravens said. "Those were always my main focus, so I feel that they always came a lot more natural than offense. I feel that my game has the most potential for growth on the offensive side, specifically expanding my perimeter game."
As Cravens continues to expand her offensive game, Nebraska Coach Amy Williams believes Cravens has a bright future for the Huskers.
"Bella is an excellent athlete who is motivated to become the best player she can," Williams said. "We have a strong need for the things she brings to the table, and we believe her best basketball is still in front of her. We can't wait to pour into her as a Husker."
Cravens is also craving Nebraska's commitment to helping her develop on and off the court.
"I think it is evident that what I need most is support in development," Cravens said. "I want to be part of a total contribution component. I want to feel the support from staff and team members. I want to compete at a higher level and evolve into a well-rounded basketball player. I feel Nebraska is the best fit for me."
Through her first six weeks on campus in Lincoln, Cravens is feeling the support she pursued.
"I think the facilities and the support I've received academically and athletically are the most surprising," Cravens said. "It seems like here at Nebraska they really want to see me succeed in all areas of my life, and everyone here is so willing to help with anything."
Cravens is also feeling a family atmosphere within the Husker women's basketball program, while rooming with fellow 2020-21 transfers MiCole Cayton, Nailah Dillard and Ashley Scoggin.
"My first few weeks on campus have been great despite a few hiccups we've faced as a team as far as COVID restrictions," Cravens said. "I'm adjusting well to life in Lincoln, however the first week I was here, the five-hour time difference really messed up my sleep schedule. We haven't been able to do much as a whole team due to all the restrictions, but we've had a few open gym runs, get-togethers at teammates' houses the first couple weeks and things of that manner."
While Cravens works to grow her game, she will also be waiting to hear from the NCAA whether she will be granted a waiver to be eligible to compete for the Huskers in 2020-21.
"I really hope I get this waiver and the opportunity to play for Nebraska right away," Cravens said. "I haven't heard anything back about the waiver regarding the timeline, but it would be great if it was granted."
With a waiver, Cravens would have a chance to become the first women's basketball letterwinner from Hawaii in Husker history.
Although she would be the first Nebraska women's basketball letterwinner from the Aloha State, the Huskers have a rich Hawaiian heritage across many sports, including college football's first Rimington Award winner Dominic Raiola (1998-2000), two-time All-America baseball pitcher Shane Komine (1999-2002) and three-time All-America volleyball setter Fiona Nepo (1995-98).
"I actually did not know that I had that opportunity (to be the first women's basketball letterwinner from Hawaii)," Cravens said. "Now that I know it, I am super-stoked to put on for the state of Hawaii!"
