Box Score

TULSA, Okla.—Hawaii found itself in a dogfight with Nevada but was eventually left standing with a 45-41 win Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at the Donald Reynolds Center. Karena Greeny scored 17 points, including a pair of free throws with seven seconds left to clinch the game and send the Rainbow Wahine to Friday's semifinals at noon CST.

The third-seeded Rainbow Wahine (22-6) await the winner of the Rice- SMU quarterfinal.

The teams entered going in opposite directions—UH in with a four-game winning streak, Nevada with a four-game losing streak. But for 40 minutes they battled nip-and-tuck. UH was up almost the entire game, but its lead never grew greater than six points as the Wolf Pack stayed within striking distance throughout.

Nevada (9-19) failed on two opportunities in the final minute to upset UH. With UH clinging to a 43-41 lead, Nevada's all-WAC center Kate Smith missed a two-footer in the paint with just 21 seconds. Kim Willoughby grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Smith. However, Willoughby missed the front-end of the one-and-one and the Wolf Pack breathed life once again.

Point guard Laura Ingham took the final shot for Nevada, a 19-footer just inside the 3-point arc, that bounced off the rim. Greeny ripped the rebound away from a Nevada player and was fouled. The senior forward then calmly sank two free throws to clinch the win.

Both teams came out with the jitters and low-scoring first half ended with a 22-19 Hawaii advantage. UH shot just 31 percent and Nevada just 33 percent for the game. The result was the lowest scoring game in WAC tournament history.

Both teams had to bench critical starters in the second half. UH center Christen Roper picked up her third foul just 15 seconds into the second frame, while Nevada point guard Laura Ingham, an all-WAC defensive selection, missed much of the final seven minutes in foul trouble.

UH was uncharacteristically out-rebounded in the first half, but doubled up the Wolf Pack on the boards, 26-13 in the second half to key the win. The Rainbow Wahine also out-scored Nevada 10-2 at the foul line.

Greeny added eight rebounds to go with her game-high 17 points, while Chelsea Wagner added 10 points for UH. Willoughby finished with five points and a game-high nine rebounds.