Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine basketball team got off to a hot start and never looked back in a 70-49 win over San Francisco in the Bank of Hawai`i Invitational Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH improved to 6-5 while handing the Dons (4-9) its fifth loss in the last six games.

Despite a two-week layoff, the Rainbow Wahine showed little rust as UH scored 44 first-half points en route to its most comfortable win this year. The Rainbow Wahine, who nailed seven of its first 10 shots from the field, took an 11-point lead, 16-5, just seven minutes in and would maintain a double-digit lead throughout.

Four UH starters finished in double-figures led by Pam Tambini and Janevia Taylor with 15 points each. Saundra Cariaga and Tanya Smith scored 10 points apiece. Dominique Carter led the Dons with 10 points.

The Rainbow Wahine shot 64 percent while committing just four turnovers in the first half to double-up the Dons, 44-22, by the break. UH extended its lead to as many as 26 in the second and fell one-point shy of its season-high point total of 71 set at Cal State Northridge on Dec. 5, while holding the Dons to just 49 points, the lowest output by a Hawai`i opponent this year.

UH played without starting center Brittany Grice, but it made little difference as the Rainbow Wahine still dominated down low. UH out-scored the Dons, 32-16, inside the paint and went to the line 24 times, including 17 trips in the first half. Hawai`i also out-rebounded USF, 35-30, and recorded six blocks.

The Rainbow Wahine will now face Oklahoma State, an 86-42 winner over Columbia, in the championship of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational Saturday at 6:00 p.m. USF and Columbia will play in the consolation game at 4:00 p.m.

-UH-