Box Score

RENO, Nevada—Christen Roper scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Hawaii basketball capped its regular season road schedule with a 59-51 win over Nevada Sunday at Lawlor Events Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 19-6 overall and remained in third place in the WAC with a 12-4 mark, a half game behind Rice.

The Rainbow Wahine powered it way to the victory, getting most of its offense inside and winning the battle of the boards. UH out-rebounded Nevada 49-22, including a 14-2 advantage on the offensive glass. UH pounded the ball inside and also outscored the Wolf Pack 14-5 at the foul line.

UH also would bear down on defense, holding Nevada's frontcourt tandem of Kate Smith and Katie Golomb to a combined 8-of-24 from the floor. The Wolf Pack shot just 37 percent for the game.

UH scored the game's first six points, while Nevada struggled early. The Wolf Pack missed their first eight shots and needed more than five minutes to get on the board with a pair of free throws by Katie Golomb. Nevada scrapped its way to eight straight points though, and the teams traded baskets for much of the first half.

Whereas UH got a vital contribution from its reserves in Thursday's win over Fresno State, it was the Rainbow Wahine starters that carried the team offensively in the first half scoring all 25 and giving UH a slim two-point advantage at the break. Roper had 10 of her 15 points by half.

But bench play again proved vital as Kim Willoughby provided an offensive spark late in the game to keep a surging Nevada team at bay. UH led by as many as 10 points with seven minutes left, but Nevada constantly cut into the lead. Willoughby helped preserve the win by scoring six straight UH points in a two-minute span late in the game. Willoughby finished with 10 points in 17 minutes.

The Wolf Pack had one last gasp. Nevada cut the lead to three points with less than two minutes on consecutive 3-pointers by Ashley Bastian, but Janka Gabrielova responded with a 3-pointer of her own with 1:29 left to seal the win.

Four players scored in double figures for Nevada (9-16, 6-10 WAC) led by Bastian's 13 points. Chelsea Wagner chipped in 12 points for the Rainbow Wahine who won their second straight and finished their regular season road schedule with a 7-2 mark.

Hawaii returns home to play its final regular season home games against UTEP and Boise State. The Rainbow Wahine first face the Miners on Thursday, February 28. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.