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Women's Basketball

Rainbow Wahine Scrap Their Way To Victory

Box Score

HONOLULU - In a physical and often-times ugly contest, Hawai`i closed out its non-conference schedule with a 67-56 win over Kent State Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine head into Western Athletic Conference play next week with a 9-2 record and riding a seven-game win streak.

Hawai`i endured one of the sloppiest games in recent memory by playing inspired basketball down the stretch. The Rainbow Wahine turned a six-point second half deficit into a 10-point lead with a game-deciding 19-3 run. Amy Sanders scored 13 of her game-high 15 points in the second half, while Tanya Smith also added 15 for the Rainbow Wahine, who are enjoying longest win streak since the 2001 WAC season.

Engaged in a physical and downright sloppy basketball game, neither team could get into a rhythm. The teams combined for 58 fouls and 44 turnoversa nd four different players fouled out. A total of 71 free throws were shot, with UH converting on 30-of-41 and Kent State on 20-of-32.

It was the Rainbow Wahine who ultimately put the clamp down, holding Kent State to just 23 percent shooting and out-rebounding the Golden Flashes, 50-32. Kent State's Lindsay Shearer entered the game averaging 20.6 ppg, but was riddled with foul trouble and limited to just one point and one field goal attempt in 12 minutes of action.

UH led for much of the first half despite going one 10-minute stretch without a field goal. Hawai`i survived on the free throw line where they scored nearly half of its first half points. The Golden Flashes, though, took their first lead of the game with just over a minute left in the half and held a slim 29-28 edge at the break.

Kent State extended their lead to 40-34, with less than 15 minutes left in the game, but that's when Hawaii awoke. Sander's 3-pointer at 8:35 mark capped a decisive 19-3 run and the Rainbow Wahine held off the Golden Flashes (7-4) the rest of the way.

Hawaii now begins WAC play, opening the conference season on the road at Nevada on January 5. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST.

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