Box Score
HONOLULU - Hawai`i overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to defeat Idaho, 71-62, Wednesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 16-8 overall and moved into a tie for third in the Western Athletic Conference with a 7-6 mark.
UH used hustle and muscle to bag the comeback win. After falling behind by eight at the break and by as many as 11 early in the second half, the Rainbow Wahine played with renewed energy by diving to the floor for loose balls, crashing the boards, and pounding the ball inside offensively. Brittany Grice, who missed her first career contest on Saturday at Utah State, scored a team-high 18 points, with 13 of those coming in the second half. Fellow post player Tanya Smith finished with 14 points. The pair also helped UH out-rebound the Vandals, 48-29, including a 26-10 advantage after the break.
The game was decided during a nine-minute stretch in the second half when the Rainbow Wahine exploded for a 20-2 run. Jessica Summer's bucket less than a minute into the second half gave the Vandals a 43-32 lead. But after that it was all UH. Back-to-back 3-pointers by Dalia Solia capped a UH run that turned an 11-point deficit into a seven-point lead, 52-45, with 10 minutes remaining.
After allowing 39 points in the first frame, Hawai`i held the Vandals without a basket for nearly 10 minutes and limited them to a total of just six field goals and 25 percent shooting in the second half. The Rainbows expanded their lead to as many as 11 points late in the game and never looked back in handing the Vandals (8-16, 4-9) their eighth loss in the last nine games and third straight road loss.
Senior Amy Sanders added 16 points for the Rainbow Wahine and Janevia Taylor put together a solid all-around effort with seven points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight assists. Emily Faurholt, the WAC's leading scorer, finished with a game-high 20 points for the Vandals.
The Rainbow Wahine, winners of five of its last six games, next play their final home contest of the season when they host San Jose State Saturday on "Senior Night." Seniors Brittney Aiwohi, Emily Helmly, Amy Sanders and Callie Spooner will be honored at the conclusion of the game. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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