Box Score
HONOLULU - Hawai`i and Wisconsin went blow-for-blow for nearly 40 minutes before the Badgers pulled away with a 77-67 win in the semifinals of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine dropped to 2-2 on the season with the loss.
Nursing a two-point lead, the Badgers scored eight straight points in the final two minutes to win by double-digits and remain perfect on the season (4-0). Jolene Anderson scored five of her 16 points during the final run. The sophomore also added six assists and five steals in the win. Janese Banks led Wisconsin with 18 points before fouling out.
Senior Amy Sanders led Hawaii with 19 points and seven rebounds, while junior wing Pam Tambini scored 16 points, one shy of her career high.
Wisconsin advances to the Classic championship where they will meet No. 17 DePaul, an 84-71 winner over Texas A&M in the tournament's other semifinal. Hawai`i, meanwhile, while take on the Aggies in the Classic third place game Sunday afternoon at 3:20 p.m.
The first 38 minutes of the game was a tight affair with a total of 13 ties and six lead changes. Powered by Sander's 13 points, UH took a 39-38 edge into the locker room. Hawaii held a 48-46 lead on a Tambini jumper with 15 minutes left, but Wisconsin scored the next four points and the Rainbow Wahine, despite its best efforts, could not recapture the lead.
UH remained within striking distance and a pair of Sanders free throws with 2:03 left pulled UH within two, 69-67. Wisconsin had an answer on its next possession as Anderson nailed a jumper, while the Rainbows failed to convert on its final four possessions of the game.
Saturday's Results
Washington State 74, Idaho State 51
Cal State Northridge 69, Eastern Michigan 59
#17 DePaul 84, Texas A&M 71
Wisconsin 77 Hawai`i 67,
Sunday's Schedule
7th Place Game: Eastern Michigan vs. Idaho State, 11:00 a.m.
5th Place Game: Cal State Northridge vs. Washington State, 1:10 p.m.
3rd Place Game: Hawaii vs. Texas A&M, 3:20 p.m.
Championship Game: #17 DePaul vs. Wisconsin, 5:30 p.m.
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