Box Score

HONOLULU - Fresno State used a bruising, aggressive style and muscled its way past Hawai`i, 70-48, in the conference opener for both teams Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine dropped to 4-4 and 0-1 in the WAC with the loss.

The game was played with intensity by both sides, but it was the Bulldogs who proved the aggressor. Fresno State out-rebounded UH 47-32, went to the line 15 times to UH's four and employed a platoon system of 12 players that eventually wore down UH's eight-player rotation. The result was UH's worst loss ever to the Bulldogs in Honolulu. Fresno State (9-1, 1-0 WAC) meanwhile remained unbeaten in five road games this year.

Each team entered the game with a long layoff --Fresno State with a 10-day break and UH with a 12-day span since its last game. It showed early as neither team was able to click offensively. The Rainbow Wahine took a six-point lead, 16-10, midway through the first half, before Fresno State turned it on. The Bulldogs closed the half with a 19-6 run to take a 29-22 lead at the break.

Fresno State proceeded to score the first four points of the second half to take a double-digit lead. The Bulldogs would extend its lead to 16, before UH shaved it to nine points, 48-39, with 10 minutes left. The Bulldogs, however, responded with nine straight points to nail the door shut. UH's comeback was thwarted by 31 percent shooting in the second half and not a single trip to the foul line. Fresno State shot 56 percent in the second half and complimented its inside toughness with seven 3-pointers for the game.

Milia Macfarlane led UH with nine points, while Brittany Grice added eight points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Leading scorer Jade Abele, shackled by foul trouble in the first half, was limited to a season-low seven points. Mirenda Swearengin led three Bulldogs in double figures with 14 points.

UH looks to rebound when they kick of the New Year with a date with Nevada. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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