Box Score

HONOLULU - Janevia Taylor scored a game-high 20 points and Hawaii overcame a slow start to defeat Kent State, 61-55, Wednesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 8-2 with their sixth straight win.

Coming off an 11-day layoff, the Rainbow Wahine began sluggishly. Hawaii, though, managed to erase a 12-point first-half deficit and held the Golden Flashes (7-3) to just two points in the final 5:44 to seal the game.

The loss was just the second for Kent State in its last seven games. Meanwhile, the six game win streak is UH's longest in three years. The Rainbow Wahine look to extend the streak to seven games, something which has not happened in four years, when the two team's meet again on Friday.

Both teams played with defensive intensity, resulting in some poor shooting. The Rainbow Wahine missed 12 of its first 13 shots and watched Kent State bolt out to a double-digit lead early. The Golden Flashes led 20-8 at the 11:38 mark, but the Rainbow Wahine outscored Kent 25-10 the remainder of the half to take a 33-30 lead at the break.

Hawaii never trailed in the second half and built its lead to as many as nine points. The Golden Flashes cut the UH lead to two points, 55-53, on a Sarah Burgess layup with 5:44 remaining. But the Rainbow Wahine would hold Kent State scoreless until a pair of free throws with less than a second left and the game already at hand.

Hawaii shot just 32 percent from the floor and made just 1-of-10 from 3-point land. The Rainbow Wahine, however, compensated with some tough defense, holding the Golden Flashes to just 31 percent shooting and recording a season-high 11 blocks, including a career-high six from Alofa Toiaivao. UH also held a 18-7 advantage on the free throw line and out-rebounded Kent State, 54-47.

Taylor tied her season high with 20 points with 14 of those coming in the second half. Amy Sanders, who played a combined 13 minutes in UH's previous two games, returned to the lineup with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Brittany Grice tied her career-high with 16 rebounds. Burgess led three Golden Flashes in double-digits with 17 points.

The teams will play the second game of the two-game series on Friday, Dec. 30. Tipoff is 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.

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