Box Score

HONOLULU - Louisiana Tech outscored Hawai`i 40-26 in the second half to turn a three-point halftime deficit into a comfortable 64-53 win Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. The loss was UH's (6-8) third straight and dropped the Rainbow Wahine to 0-2 in the WAC, the first time UH has lost its opening two games WAC games since joining the conference in 1996-97.

UH led for 24 of the game's first 25 minutes, but the Lady Techsters shifted gears in the second half, using a 23-2 run to turn a UH upset bid into a runaway win for La Tech. UH has now lost to Louisiana Tech in 17 of 18 all-time meetings, including 11 of 12 in Honolulu.

The Rainbow Wahine were poised for an upset of the defending WAC champs, leading by as many as 11 points in the first half and holding a 32-28 lead in the opening minutes of the second half. LTU, however, scored 11 straight points to take the lead and when Amber Metoyer nailed two free throws, the Lady Techesters had completed a 23-2 run that put them up, 51-34, with just eight minutes remaining.

The Lady Techsters grew the lead to as many as 21 points, before UH's reserves put on a furious rally. Megan Tinnin hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 10 points, 57-47, sending the home crowd into a frenzy with 2:20 left. But it was too little too late as the Lady Techsters sealed the win on the free throw line where they scored their final seven points.

Tanya Smith led UH with 14 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while Pam Tambini added nine points for the Rainbow Wahine, who shot just 32 percent for the game. Cassidy Chretien, a native of Lake Charles, La., tallied a team-high four assists in her first career start. Ty Moore led four Lady Techsters in double-figures with 15 points, while also adding a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Rainbow next travel to Reno where they will play their first conference road game of the year versus Nevada on Thursday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PST.

-UH-