Box Score
LOS ANGELES - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine basketball team concluded its three-game road trip with a 72-52 loss to USC Saturday afternoon at the Lyon Center. The Rainbow Wahine dropped to 4-4 after finishing the trip with a 1-2 mark.
Despite a quick start, UH's offense sputtered and finished with its worst offensive output of the season. UH exploded for 17 points in the first five minutes to take a slim one-point lead over the Trojans. But the offense fizzled the rest of the way, as UH finished the game shooting a season-low 28 percent. The Rainbow Wahine hit their first four three-point attempts, but made just five of its next 27 attempts. The 31 three-point attempts tied a school record set during a 2003 Western Athletic Conference Tournament loss to Boise State.
UH trailed, 38-30, at the break but shot just 23 percent in the second half, including 3-of-19 behind the arc, as the Trojans built their lead to as many as 23 points. Eshaya Murphey led three Trojans in double-figures with 19 points and 10 rebounds. None of UH's starting five finished in double-figures as the Rainbow Wahine reserves saw significant action. Iwona Zagrobelna finished with a team-high 11 points, all of them coming in the first half.
Hawai`i played the Trojans (4-4) close for nearly the entire first half, though USC gained momentum with a pair of free throws on the final possession of the half. Up by eight at break, USC scored five straight points coming out of the break, all by Murphey, to give the Women of Troy its first double-digit lead of the game. After UH's sluggish second half start, head coach Jim Bolla went with a platoon system as UH reserves received the majority minutes after the break. The Rainbow Wahine, however, couldn't cut the lead below double-digits as the Trojans would cruise to victory.
UH now returns home where it will host the Paradise Classic, Dec. 15-16 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine will face Evansville, Friday at 7 p.m. Chattanooga and Portland State round-out the four-team tournament.
-UH-
