Box Score

HONOLULU- Hawaii battled Utah toe-to-toe for nearly the entire game before succumbing, 52-45, in the second round of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic Saturday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center. For the second straight day the Rainbow Wahine had a win within its grasp, but sputtered down the stretch.

UH dropped to 0-2 on the young season and will meet California in the seventh place game of the tournament Sunday at 11 a.m. The loss assured Hawaii its lowest finish in the 26 years of the Rainbow Wahine Classic. Prior to this year, Hawaii has never finished below sixth place. Utah, meanwhile, evened its record to 2-2 and will play Idaho for fifth place.

Hawaii, facing one of the top defensive programs in the country, matched the Utes' intensity and held Utah to just 26 percent shooting for the game. It was the Rainbow Wahine, however, who were unable to score in the end. Hawaii led by seven points, 41-34, with 7:50 remaining, but were able to manage just two field goals the rest of the way.

Utah forward Kim Smith scored 14 of the team's final 18 points as she almost single-handedly turned the seven-point deficit into a seven-point Utes win. The All-American finished with a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Jade Abele did her best for the Rainbow Wahine effort, scoring a team-high 18 points while adding five rebounds and three assists. Abele's back-to-back 3-pointers gave UH its seven point bulge, it biggest lead of the game with just under eight minutes. UH's twin towers of Brittany Grice and Alofa Toiaivao led the Rainbow Wahine defensive effort by combining for seven blocks Yet, the Utes would end up wearing down the Rainbow Wahine with a 46-26 rebounding edge and a 19-9 difference at the foul line.

Saturday's Results
Idaho 82, California 72
Utah 52, Hawaii 45
Michigan State 81, Santa Clara 59
TCU 64, Georgia 63

Sunday's Schedule
7th Place Game: Hawaii vs. California, 11 a.m.
5th Place Game: Utah vs. Idaho, 1:10 pm
3rd Place Game: Santa Clara vs. Georgia, 3:20 pm
Championship: Michigan State vs. TCU, 5:30 pm

Final Box Score

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