Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State's Jaime Hall hit the game-winning basket with 17 seconds remaining to hand the University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine basketball team its most disappointing loss of the year, 57-56, Thursday night at The Event Center. The Spartans (2-19, 1-6 WAC) picked up just their second win in 21 games this year, while handing the Rainbow Wahine (7-12, 1-6 WAC) their seventh loss in the last eight games.

The Rainbow Wahine lost despite holding a 16-point lead in the first half and a six-point lead at the break. But a dismal second half again doomed the Rainbow Wahine, who squandered a halftime lead for the fifth time this season. The loss slid UH into a three-way tie with San Jose State and Idaho for last place in the Western Athletic Conference standings.

It also spoiled the homecoming for senior forward Pam Tambini. The San Jose native led UH with 16 points and 10 rebounds, including a go-ahead free throw with 40 seconds remaining to put the Rainbow Wahine up, 56-55. The lead, however, would not last long as Hall nailed a clutch jumper from the left wing on the Spartans ensuing possession. UH had one final possession, but fittingly turned the ball over. It was UH's 21st turnover of the game as the Rainbow Wahine, who lead the league in the category, tallied 20-plus turnovers for the fifth straight game.

The Rainbow Wahine started strong, spotting the Spartans the first points of the game before taking control. UH build its lead to as many as 16 points after a Janevia Taylor bucket put the Rainbow Wahine up, 25-9, midway through the first half. San Jose State chipped away during the remaining eight minutes of the half and Natalie White's layup in the waning seconds cut the UH lead to 33-27 at the break. A Tambini three-point gave UH a nine-point edge early in the second half, but the Spartans responded with a 13-3 run, capped by a Hall three-pointer, to make it a dogfight the rest of the way.

White led the Spartans with 13 points, while Hall finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Taylor joined Tambini in double-figures with 10 points, but struggled from the floor, shooting just 4-of-20 and scoring just one point after the break.

UH next travels to Logan, Utah where it will face the Utah State Aggies on Saturday, Jan. 27. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. MST.

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