Box Score

HONOLULU--Hawaii used a late surge to defeat Saint Mary's, 75-71, in the opening game of the Territorial Savings Bank Invitational Sunday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 2-4 on the year after out-scoring the Gaels (4-3), 17-8 in the final four-plus minutes.

Junior Jade Abele and freshman Dalia Solia combined for 36 points and provided clutch play down the stretch to lift UH to the win. The pair scored 18 of the team's final 23 points as the Rainbow Wahine overcame a five-point hole with a little over four minutes remaining.

Solia's 3-point play with 3:12 remaining knotted the game at 63-63, and her jumper just inside the 3-point arc, with just 1:29 left gave UH its first lead since early in the second half. After the Gaels (4-2) tied the score, 69-69 on a Serena Benavente 3-point with less than one-minute Abele responded on UH next possession with a 3-point play of her own to give UH the lead for good.

Solia finished with a career-high 17 points and six rebounds, while Able had another outstanding all-around effort with 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals.

Hawaii scored its final three points from the free throw line, where they outscored the Gaels, 28-5. UH also out-rebounded the Gaels, 45-39.

Three Gaels finished in double-figures led by Triola Jackson and Monica Mertle with 16 points each. Benavente posted 14 points to go along with her game-high seven assists.

Saint Mary's jumped out on UH early and led by as many as nine, 17-8, on the strength of four 3-pointers. The Rainbow Wahine stormed right back, scoring nine straight to tie the score and UH would take its first lead of the game, with 5:27 remaining in half on a pair of Amber Lee free throws. The Rainbow Wahine took a 36-32 lead into the locker room.

Saint Mary's took control in the second half. A 12-0 run allowed the Gaels to turn a six-point deficit into a six-point advantage. UH, however, got its offense going and ultimately where able to put up 75 points, close to 20 points more than what a stingy St. Mary' defense had been allowing all year.

The Territorial Savings Bank Invitational continues Monday afternoon when St. Mary's faces Texas-Arlington at 3 p.m. UH and Texas-Arlington will conclude the tournament on Tuesday evening 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.