Box Score

HONOLULU—The University of Hawaii Wahine basketball team captured the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic championship by walloping Cleveland State, 76-55, Tuesday at the Stan Sheriff Center. Hawaii's suffocating defense and frontcourt dominance doomed the Vikings from the start as UH closed the preseason with its second tournament title.

The Wahine (7-2) raced out from the beginning, taking a double-digit lead just five minutes into the game. UH scored the first 11 points of the contest and forced the Vikings (4-4) to miss their first 10 shots of the game.

Wahine guards Janka Gabrielova and Michelle Gabriel keyed the defensive effort by hounding CSU scoring ace Erika Rodebush. Roudesbush, who scored 36 points in CSU's win over Tennessee State on Monday, was held scoreless for almost the entire game. She finished with just two points on 1-of-8 shooting. The Vikings shot a dismal 24 percent for the game.

Meanwhile, UH pounded the ball inside to Christen Roper and Natasja Allen on the offensive end. The frontcourt tandem combined for 42 points, with the majority of the points coming from inside five feet. Roper scored 19 of her career-high 22 points by halftime as UH led 37-24 at the break. The 6-5 center, who was named tournament MVP, also added 10 rebounds and six blocks.

Allen finished with 20 points and six rebounds and was also named to the all-tournament team. Senior wing player Karena Greeny received her first-ever all-tournament honors and contributed eight points, 11 rebounds and six assists versus the Vikings.

Also on the all-tournament team were Roudebush, LaRissa Thomas of Tennessee State and Alicia Abernathy of Charlotte.

UH begins its Western Athletic Conference season on the road, traveling to Boise State on December 28. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. MST.