Box Score
BOISE, Idaho - Hawaii's misfortunes continued with an 83-75 loss to Boise State Monday night at Taco Bell Arena. The Rainbow Wahine dropped to 10-6 overall 1-4 in the WAC with its fourth straight loss.
Jessica Thompson and Jackie Lee combined for 41 Bronco points and UH fizzled down the stretch as the Rainbow Wahine were handed their fourth loss in five conference games. At 1-4, UH is off to its worst start since joining the WAC in 1996. The Broncos (11-7, 3-3 WAC) also picked up their first regular-season win over Hawaii since joining the WAC in 2000, a span of nine games.
Amy Sanders tied her season-high with 20 points, Janevia Taylor scored 19 and Brittany Grice added 18 points, but it was not nearly enough to defeat the Broncos who grinded out the win in the second half with tough rebounding.
The Rainbow Wahine led by three points, 73-70, with seven minutes left but failed to make a field goal for the duration of the game. Boise State closed the game with a 13-2 run. The game though was ultimately decided on the boards in the second half, when the Broncos out-rebounded the Rainbow Wahine 32-13. UH entered the game as the top rebounding team in the WAC, but were thoroughly beaten by a smaller Bronco squad. Boise State finished with a 49-28 rebounding advantage and created numerous second chance opportunities with 21 offensive boards.
The game was shaping up as a shootout early on. UH hit a season-high nine 3-pointers, including seven converted in the first half by Sanders and Taylor. Boise State nailed 10 3-pointers of their own for the game and led by two, 47-45, at the half on the strength of 19 points and five treys by Thompson. Hawaii limited Thompson to just two points in second half, but could not contain Lee, who scored all but four of her 20 points after the break, including three timely 3-point shots.
Hawaii played the game without three players, including sophomore guard Saundra Cariaga, junior forward Pam Tambini and junior center Alofa Toiaivao. The trio were suspended indefinitely due to violations of team rules following UH's loss at Fresno State and were sent home prior to UH's game versus Boise State.
UH now returns to Honolulu for their next two games starting with its first-ever conference meeting with Utah State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, January 26.
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