Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Hawaii suffered its worst loss of the season as Fresno State mauled the Rainbow, 77-52, Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center. UH dropped to 10-5 overall and 1-3 in the WAC with its third straight loss and its first loss in four road games this year.

Fresno State (13-4, 5-0) remained undefeated in WAC play with its sixth straight win. The Bulldogs also continued its dominance over UH with its fifth win in the last six meetings. Fresno State has won the last four straight by an average of 19 points.

It took Hawaii just five seconds to score the first bucket of the game as Janevia Taylor's jumper put UH up, 2-0. But it was all Bulldogs after that. Fresno State proved the aggressor all game long as their pressure defense caused 26 UH turnovers and numerous fast break opportunities. The Bulldogs led by 19 at the half, 41-22, and built the advantage to as many as 32 points in the second half with its frantic defense and an equally aggressive offensive effort.

UH was held to a season-low 52 points on just 32 percent shooting. UH shot just 28 percent and did not attempt a single free throw in the first half. The Rainbow Wahine also missed all 15 of their 3-point attempts, marking the first time in four years--a stretch of 113 games--that UH failed to hit a 3-pointer.

Alofa Toiaivao was the only Rainbow Wahine to enjoy any type of offensive success. The junior center scored 12 of her season-high 17 points in the first half and also added eight rebounds and three blocks. Leading scorer Amy Sanders, who was saddled with foul trouble for most of the first half and did not score until the 13:31 mark of the second half, was held to just four points.

Amy Parrish led a balanced Bulldog attack with 14 points, but the star of the game was senior guard Mirenda Swearengin who barely missed a triple-double with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and a nine assists. The junior college transfer also recorded seven of Fresno State's 19 steals.

UH looks to recover with the second leg of its road trip at Boise State on Monday, January 23. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m MST.

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