Box Score
HONOLULU - Oklahoma State used a pair of second-half runs to defeat Hawai`i, 78-64, and capture the Bank of Hawai`i Invitational championship Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine dropped to 6-6 with the loss.
After trailing 33-30 at intermission, the Cowgirls (12-1) blitzed the Rainbow Wahine with a 20-4 run to begin the second half. UH game back to tie the game, 56-56, with six minutes remaining, but Oklahoma State out-scored UH, 22-8, to end the game.
Rashidat Sadiq led four Cowgirls in double figures with 19 points. Shaunte Smith scored 18, Danielle Green poured in 17 and tournament MVP Andrea Riley notched 12 points and eight assists.
Janevia Taylor scored a team-high 17 points for the Rainbow Wahine, while Tanya Smith recorded her first double-double of the season and sixth of her career with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Senior Brittany Grice, who missed Friday night's game, did not start but returned to action with 18 minutes off the bench, scoring seven points.
It was a back-and forth game in the first half with nine ties and six lead changes as neither team led by more than four points. UH had success against OSU's zone defense, draining five first-half three-pointers - including a stretch of four straight - that helped UH take a three-point edge at the break.
The second half resembled nothing like the first as there were three main momentum shifts. After UH scored the first bucket of the second half to take a 35-30 lead, Oklahoma State ran wild scoring 20 of the next 22 points in the game. The five-minute barrage turned a five-point OSU deficit into a 50-37 lead.
The Rainbow Wahine however would not go down without a fight. UH responded with a 19-6 run of their own, capped by a Dita Liepkalne bucket to tie the score, 56-56, with just over six minutes remaining. Oklahoma State though had one more run in them, scoring on five of its next six possessions to put the game away.
The Rainbow Wahine continue their six-game home stand with their Western Athletic Conference opener versus New Mexico State on Thursday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
All-Tournament Team
Dominique Carter, San Francisco
Megan Griffith, Columbia
Rasidat Sadiq, Oklahoma State
Tanya Smith, Hawai`i
Janevia Taylor, Hawai`i
MVP: Andrea Riley, Oklahoma State
-UH-