Box Score
HONOLULU -
Janevia Taylor scored a team-high 20 points, including a bucket with nine seconds remaining to send the game into overtime, to help lift Hawaii to a 68-64 overtime win against Wake Forest on the final evening of the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic. UH improved to 4-3, while handing the Demon Deacons (8-1) their first loss of the season.
Hawaii, Houston and Wake Forest all finished the round-robin tournament with identical 1-1 records. Houston was declared tournament champion following the tiebreaker procedure of least points allowed.
Taylor, named the tournament's MVP, recorded her first career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds and led four UH players in double figures. Alofa Toiaivao, also named to the all-tournament team, added 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Jade Abele finished with 12 and Milia Macfarlane with 10.
In a game that involved 10 ties and 11 lead changes, UH and Wake Forest battled toe-to-toe for the full 45 minutes. Wake Forest looked like it would keep its perfect season going when Cotelia Bond-Young stole a UH pass and converted on a breakaway layup to put the Demon Deacons up with 26 seconds left in regulation. The Rainbow Wahine responded on its final possession by pounding the ball down low to Toiaivao. The sophomore center missed on her attempt, but Taylor came flying into traffic to snare the rebound and lofted a fade-away from six feet out to send the game to an extra session.
The game remained tight in overtime until Amy Sanders layup with 55 seconds remaining put UH up, 66-64. The Demon Deacons had an opportunity to even the score when Erin Ferrell was sent to the foul line with less than three seconds remaining. Ferrell, however, missed her first attempt, then intentionally missed her second attempt. Hawaii retained possession and Toiaivao secured the game with a pair of free throws with one second remaining.
Cotelia-Bond Young finished with a game-high 22 points for the Demon Deacons. Liz Strunk added 14 and Keila Evans 11.
Hawaii, winners of four of its last five, defeated an Atlantic Coast Conference team for the first time since a 88-78 upset of nationally ranked Virginia in 1989. It was just the seventh all-time meeting with an ACC team for the Rainbow Wahine, who had lost on the last four occasions.
The Rainbow Wahine next take the floor on December 30 when they open Western Athletic Conference play versus Fresno State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
All Tournament Team
Daphne Andre, Houston
Cotelia Bond-Young, Wake Forest
Sancho Lyttle, Houston
Janevia Taylor
Alofa Toiaivao, Hawaii
MVP: Janevia Taylor, Hawaii
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