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University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics

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Women's Basketball

Rainbow Wahine Start Off Season Strong With A Win

Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team started off their 2007-2008 season with a win against Washington, 80-75 in front of 1,596 fans. UH improves to 19-8 all time in season openers and is now 2-2 all time in season openers under head coach Jim Bolla.

The Rainbow Wahine were led by freshman guard Keisha Kanekoa who tallied a game high 21 points in her first collegiate start. Sophomore Dita Liepkalne had 17 points with eight rebounds and senior Tanya Smith chipped in 15 along with a game high 13 rebounds. Redshirt freshman guard Leilani Galdones also made her first collegiate start and had an impressive game with 13 points, including four three pointers.

UH started off strong in the first half against the Huskies and jumped off to a 11-3 lead off a Galdones three pointer. The `Bows extended their lead to 14, their largest lead of the half, off Liepkaine's trey, 37-23 forcing a UW timeout with 3:55 remaining. UH stepped up their defensive pressure and only allowed two more Huskie points before closing out the half with a 38-25 lead. The `Bows forced 13 turnovers and used a press throughout the half to put pressure on the Huskie transition game.

UH opened up the second half in a similar fashion to how it started the game. Kanekoa hit a three pointer from the top of the key to give the Rainbow Wahine their largest lead of the game, 43-27.

Soon after, UW fought their way back with a 7-0 run capped by Katelan Redmon's fast break lay up to bring the Huskies within nine, 43-34 at the 17:25 mark. The `Bows answered right back when Galdones hit a three to end the Huskie scoring streak. Galdones was perfect from three point range up to that point (4/5 from 3-point range).

The Rainbow Wahine suffered a field goal drought and the Huskies took full advantage. After a Smith bucket with 13:00 remaining in the game, Hawaii did not score a field goal until Liepkalne hit a shot at the 9:46 mark. The Huskies cut the `Bows lead to seven, 59-52 off a Michelle Augustavo field goal. She also had her team's first three pointer during the UH field goal drought. It was the smallest Rainbow Wahine lead since 9:52 in the first half.

The Huskies went on a 7-2 run before a media timeout with only 3:51 remaining in the game to put down the UH lead 68-61. The Huskies were committed to full court pressure most of the second half and slowed down the UH transition game. Augustavo hit a critical three after a UW timeout, to cut the Uh lead to five 70-65 with only 1:26 left in the contest. It was Augstavo's third three pointer in the second half and she amassed had 14 points in the second half.

Smith fouled out of the game with only 53 seconds left on a crucial play where Augustavo attempted a three pointer and was hacked by Smith. Augustavo hit all of her free throws and brought the Rainbow Wahine lead to only four, 73-69.

After two Kanekoa free throws, Augustavo answered back with a three pointer to cut the Huskie defeict to three at 75-72. Kaneoka came right back and nailed a jumper but on the next Huskie possession Sami Whitcomb drained a three from the left wing to cripple UH's lead to two, 77-75.

Sophomore guard Megan Tinnin, Galdones, and Kanekoa all hit free throws down the stretch to seal UH's victory over the Huskies.

Hawai`i improves to 3-3 all time against Washington.

UH will next play UC Davis tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. UW will face Northern Arizona at 5:00 p.m.

-UH-
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