STANFORD, Calif. - The No. 9 University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine water polo placed fifth in the eight-team Stanford Invitational, after splitting both of its matches, Sunday, at Avery Aquatic Center. The Rainbow Wahine (4-3) dropped a 9-5 decision to California but outlasted Michigan, 13-11, in double overtime.

The morning match for UH featured its second face-off in three days with No. 7 California, and the result was the same as the Golden Bears were too much for the Rainbow Wahine. Junior Beth Novick set the pace for Hawai`i with two goals and two steals, while driver Audrey Harrer set a new career-high with three of the 12 team steals. A 10-save performance from goalie Amber Lumb kept California from running away in the second half, but the Rainbow Wahine could not overcome the Golden Bears' 6-3 halftime lead.

The setback to California put the Rainbow Wahine in the 5th place match against No. 8 Michigan, and this time it was Hawai`i's offensive attack that set the tempo. A five-goal second quarter and a career-high six goals by Novick were just enough to power the Rainbow Wahine past the Wolverines in double overtime, 13-11. Lumb posted her second double-digit save performance of the day, stopping 12 shots. UH would need all of them, as the Rainbow Wahine erased a two-goal fourth quarter deficit to knot the match at nine with 25 seconds remaining. A three-goal outburst in the second extra period gave Hawai`i the hard-earned victory.

"We handled the pressure very well today, in both games," head coach Michel Roy said. "I'm proud of our effort. These types of situations will help us later in the season."

After a brief layoff, the Rainbow Wahine hit the road again for MPSF match-ups with No. 5 San Diego State, Feb. 26, and 14th ranked Arizona State, Feb. 27.


Day Two, Game One - Hawai`i vs. California
1-2-3-4=Total
Hawai`i 1-2-1-1=5
California 3-3-1-2=9

Hawai`i Scoring: Beth Novick - 2, Audrey Harrer, Darcy Scott-Hosaka, Makana Whitford
California Scoring: Brittani Llorente - 3, Cara Chlebicki -2, Breana Allison, Jodie Needles, Natalie Nelson, Elsie Windes
Goalie Saves: Amber Lumb (H) - 10, Lauren Dennis (C) - 7

Day Two, Game Two - Hawai`i vs. Michigan
1-2-3-4-OT-2OT=Total
Hawai`i 1-5-1-2-1-3=13
Michigan 2-3-3-1-1-1=11

Hawai`i Scoring: Beth Novick - 6, Shannon Carroll - 2, Darcy Scott-Hosaka - 2, Audrey Harrer, Danielle Mulford, Malia Tarayao
Michigan Scoring: Casey Kerney - 3, Jo Antonsen - 2, Hausmann - 2, Sheetal Narsai, Megan Nisbet, Stephanie Rupp, Shana Welch
Goalie Saves: Amber Lumb (H) - 12, Betsey Armstrong (M) - 8



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