Box Score

HONOLULU - Powered by a game-high 19 points by tournament MVP Jade Abele, Hawaii defeated BYU, 56-44, in the championship game of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Invitational Saturday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH improved to 3-2 overall with the win.

After starting the season 0-2, the Rainbow Wahine have responded by winning three straight, their first such streak since the 2002-03 season. UH also captured its first preseason tournament since taking the 2002 Hawaii Invitational.

The Rainbow Wahine never trailed in the game yet the win was by no means easy. UH jumped all over the Cougars (5-2) at the beginning of the game. The Rainbow Wahine made their first four shots, while BYU struggled. The Cougars missed 13 of their first 15 shots and found themselves in a 16-4 hole early on. UH held a 22-15 lead at half, holding the Cougars to just 21 percent shooting, including just 1-of-11 from behind the arc.

Hawaii maintained their lead in a rough-and-tumble second half and led by as many as 13 points after a Milia Macfarlane layup at the eight-minute mark. BYU cut the margin to just four points, 45-41, on a 3-pointer by Nancy Seljaas with just over three minutes remaining. But Hawaii had an answer in sophomore center Alofa Toiavao. Toiaiavao scored eight straight points for UH down the stretch as the Cougars would get no closer. The native of Sandy, Utah, finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks and earned a spot on the all-tournament team, along with teammate Janevia Taylor and tourney MVP Jade Abele.

Abele added four assists and four steals to her 19-point performance. Kristen Kozlowski finished with a team-high 14 points for BYU.

UH finished the game shooting 40 percent from the floor, while holding the Cougars to just 29 percent shooting. BYU won the rebound battle, 37-34, but the Rainbow Wahine held a decided edge at the line where they hit 16 of their 20 attempts.

UH host its final tournament, December 16-18, as Wake Forest and nationally-ranked Houston join the Rainbow Wahine for the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic. UH and Houston kick off the round-robin tournament on Thursday, December 16 at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

All-Tournament Team
Tatiana Conceicao (SE Missouri State)
Ambrosia Anderson (BYU)
Kristen Kozlowski (BYU)
Alofa Toiaivao (Hawaii)
Janevia Taylor (Hawaii)

Tournament MVP: Jade Abele (Hawaii)

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