Box Score

HONOLULU--Texas-Arlington turned up the defensive heat to defeat Hawaii, 59-51, in the final game of the Territorial Savings Bank Invitational, Tuesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine (2-5) rallied late, but were unable to overcome a dismal first-half performance.

UH entered the game with opportunity to capture its first tournament title of the year. In the end, Hawaii, Saint Mary's and Texas-Arlington each finished the round-robin tournament with identical 1-1 records. Texas-Arlington was declared the tournament champion due to the tiebreaker of least points allowed.

The Lady Mavs (3-5) harassed Hawaii with full-court pressure and swarming half-court defense from start to finish. UTA flustered UH into five turnovers on its first six possessions in a sign of things to come. The Lady Mavs scored the first eight points of the game and built a double-digit lead less than five minutes in.

The Rainbow Wahine trailed by as many as 18 points and were down, 33-19, at the break a deficit pinned on turnovers (14) and poor shooting. UH made just three field goals in the first half and shot just 19 percent (3-of-16) from the floor. UH's saving grace were free throws as they hit 13-of-18 in the first half.

A fired-up UH squad, led by Jade Abele played decidedly better in the second half and moved within striking range for much of the second half. An Abele 3-pointer brought UH within four points with a minute left and less than 30 seconds later Milia Macfarlane would hit another trey to cut it to 53-51. The Lady Mavs, however sealed the game at the free throw line where they scored their final six points. UTA forward Rola Ogunoye, also nixed any UH comeback by scoring 13 of her team-high 18 points in the second half.

Abele, who led UH's second half surge, finished with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds. She also added three assists, two blocks and two steals.

The Rainbow Wahine close out their non-conference schedule with their fourth and final tournament of the year, the 12th Annual Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic, December 22-23. UH will face Fairfield on the first day of action, Monday, December 22 at 7 p.m.

Territorial Savings Bank Invitational All-Tournament Team: Triola Jackson (Saint Mary's), Serena Benavente (Saint Mary's), Krystal Buchanan (Texas-Arlington), Rola Ogunoye (Texas-Arlington), Dalia Solia (Hawaii), MVP- Jade Abele (Hawaii)