Box Score
HONOLULU - No. 3 Oklahoma captured the championship of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic with a 76-56 win over Hawai`i Saturday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine dropped to 1-1 on the season with the loss.
The Sooners, the highest-ranked team UH has faced in 11 years, lived up to its billing with a dominating win. After UH scored the first bucket of the game, Oklahoma reeled off 11 straight points and never looked back. The Sooner trailed just 15 seconds in the entire game and kept UH at bay throughout, building its lead to as many as 26 points late in the second half.
Sophomore center and tournament MVP Courtney Paris led the Sooners with 18 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 24 minutes of action. Three others scored in double-figures for Oklahoma, including 14 apiece by Chelsi Welch and Ashley Paris. Janevia Taylor was the only Rainbow Wahine in double digits with 12 points.
UH missed 20 of its first 25 field goal attempts and shot just 23 percent in the first half. UH also struggled from the free throw line converting 5-of-10 free throws in the first half. Still the Rainbow Wahine trailed at the break by just 12, 33-21, in part due to foul trouble by Paris. The All-American center sat the final 10 minutes of the first half as the Soooners maintained a comfortable lead, but were unable to blow it open, despite UH's offensive woes.
UH shot considerable better in the second half (50 percent) but were unable to keep up with the Sooners, who also shot 50 percent after intermission. With a considerable size advantage, Oklahoma out-rebounded UH, 48-30.
The Rainbow Wahine have now lost 21 straight games to nationally ranked teams, dating back to 1998.
Georgetown (1-2) defeated Eastern Kentucky (1-2) in the consolation game earlier in the day.
UH next hosts the 28th annual Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic, Nov. 24-26. The Rainbow Wahine face Texas Tech in first-round action, Nov. 24, at 5:30 p.m.
All-Tournament Team
Crystal Jones, Eastern Kentucky
Kieraah Marlow, Georgetown
Janevia Taylor, Hawaii
Amanda Thompson, Oklahoma
Ashley Paris, Oklahoma
MVP: Courtney Paris
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