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Women's Basketball

Hawai`i Outlasts Evansville In Overtime

Box Score

HONOLULU - Playing its first home game in nearly three weeks, the University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine basketball team returned home with a hard-fought 71-68 overtime win over Evansville on the opening night of the Paradise Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 5-4 with the win.

Janevia Taylor scored a game-high 21 points, including four critical points in overtime to lift UH to victory. UH improved to 8-0 all-time when Taylor scores 20 or more points in a game. With her 21-point outburst, the senior guard needs just three more points to hit the 1000-mark.

After getting pounded on the boards in its last two losses, the Rainbow Wahine out-rebounded the Purple Aces, 48-29, including a key offensive rebound by Brittany Grice with 20 seconds left in the overtime period which allowed UH to run the clock and pad a slim two-point cushion. Grice finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Pam Tambini, who poured in 13 points by halftime, finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.

UH sat in the driver's seat for nearly the entire game, trailing only during a brief five-minute interval in the first half. The Rainbow Wahine, however, could never shake off the Purple Aces (5-4), who trailed by no more than seven points in the game. Evansville failed to overtake UH in the second half, but Rebekah Parker scored 13 of her 18 points after the break, to keep the Purple Aces in striking distance. Evansville tied the score three times in the second half, and Robyn Jennings free throw with 26.9 seconds put the score at 64-64.

The Rainbow Wahine enjoyed the last possession of regulation, but Tambini's jumper in the middle of the lane was off the mark, as was Dalia Solia's attempted tip and Hawai`i headed into its first overtime game of the season. UH responded by scoring six of the first eight points in the extra period as Tambini's three-point play and Taylor's three-pointer at the 2:57 mark gave UH a 70-66 edge. Evansville cut the lead to 70-68 on Anaris Sickles' layup, but the Purple Aces were held scoreless for the game's final two minutes.

With UH clinging to a two-point lead with less than 30 seconds left, Tambini missed a baseline jumper but the Rainbow Wahine got a huge offensive rebound and Taylor sank a free throw with 15 seconds remaining for the final margin. Evansville missed on its final two opportunities, including a half-court heave as time expired.

Parker and Ashli Sneff led Evansville with 18 points each. Saundra Cariaga added 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Rainbow Wahine, who survived despite committing 22 turnovers and converting 11-of-21 free throws.

UH will now face Chattanooga, an 81-61 winner over Portland State, in the championship of the Paradise Classic, Saturday at 3:00 p.m. Evansville will take on Portland State in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m.

-UH-
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