Box Score
FRESNO, Calif. - Hawai`i dropped its fifth straight game and fourth conference game in row with a 75-69 overtime loss to Fresno State Saturday afternoon at the Save Mart Center. The Rainbow Wahine (6-10, 0-4 WAC) rallied from a double-digit deficit and extended the Bulldogs to overtime, but ultimately fell short.
Chantella Perera scored a career-high 28 points, including five key points at the end of regulation and Tierra Wilson added 20 points and 10 rebounds to lift the Bulldogs to their sixth straight victory over Hawai`i. UH hasn't beaten Fresno State since a 48-46 win at the Save Mart Center in 2004.
The pair of Bulldogs spoiled a comeback bid by the Rainbow Wahine, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and rallied from a 12-point second half deficit to send the game into overtime. UH trailed by eight points with four minutes left, but when Iwona Zagrobelna nailed two free throws with nine seconds remaining the Rainbow Wahine had knotted the score, 63-63. The Bulldogs had a chance to win the game in regulation but Wilson's long jumper at the buzzer was off the mark.
UH scored the first basket in the extra period to get ahead, 65-63, for the first time since the game's opening minutes, but the Bulldogs scored six straight points to retain a lead they would not relinquish.
Four Rainbow Wahine finished in double-figures in scoring, including three with double-doubles. Tanya Smith led the team in scoring for the third straight game with 19 points and added 11 rebounds. Zagrobelna enjoyed a career-game with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Janevia Taylor added 15 points, 13 of those coming during UH's second-half rally, while Pam Tambini contributed 10 points and 11 rebounds.
UH lost despite out-rebounding Fresno State, 50-37. For the second straight games the Rainbow Wahine were plagued by turnovers, committing 16 of their 24 turnovers in the first-half as they fell behind by 11 at the break.
Hawai`i next returns to the islands for a pair of WAC home games, beginning with a match-up versus Idaho on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.
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