Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Hawaii won its second straight road game with a heart-stopping 73-69 victory against Santa Clara Saturday afternoon at the Leavey Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 5-2 with their third straight win and notched their first back-to-back road wins since defeating Boise State and UTEP in 2003.

Amy Sanders and Brittany Grice combined for 40 of UH's 73 points, including several key plays down the stretch. Grice finished with a career-high 20 points and 16 rebounds and scored five of UH's final 11 points.

Sanders tied her season high with 20 points and made the critical play of the game. With 16 seconds left and UH clinging to a one-point lead, Sanders stole a Bronco pass and went the length of the court for a breakaway layup to put Hawaii up by three. The Broncos failed to convert on their next possession and Janevia Taylor's free throw with four seconds remaining sealed the win.

Santa Clara (2-5) entered the game as one of the most prolific offenses in the country, averaging 82 points and nearly 11 3-pointers per game. UH contained the Bronco perimeter threat for most of the game (7-of -21 3-pointers) and held top gun Michelle Cozad to just seven points, 14 below her average. The Rainbow Wahine also crashed the boards, posting 55 rebounds with 28 on the offensive end.

It was a roller coaster game for the Rainbow Wahine who saw a double-digit lead in the first half evaporate five minutes into the second frame. Powered by Pam Tambini's nine points, the Rainbow Wahine reeled off a 15-3 run midway through the first half to take an 11-point lead. The Broncos, however, started to heat up and cut the deficit to 36-30 at the break. Ashley Graham led the comeback and her third straight 3-pointer gave SCU a 42-41 lead with 15 minutes left.

UH, however, kept its poise in what would be a tight game the rest of the way. The Rainbow Wahine took the lead for good on a Sander's free throw with 4:36 left held the Broncos off the rest of the way.

Tambini, a native of nearby San Jose, made her homecoming a memorable one by notching her first career double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds), while Janevia Taylor played a solid game at point with 10 points, five assists, three steals and zero turnovers.

Hawaii returns home where it will begin a four-game homestand beginning with a meeting against Campbell on Friday, Dec. 16. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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