Box Score
HONOLULU - The University of Hawaii women's basketball team opened the Island Imaging Paradise Classic Friday night with a tough 69-60 loss to Western Carolina at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine and Lady Catamounts battled back-and-forth all night, exchanging leads six times. With the loss UH falls to 3-4 on the season, while Western Carolina improved to 6-2 with the win.
UH kept fighting until the end Friday night, as the Rainbow Wahine made it hard for the Lady Catamounts to put the game away.
The Rainbow Wahine have a short turnaround before returning to action Saturday at 1 p.m. UH will face Tennessee Tech at 1 p.m. on the second day of the Island Imaging Paradise Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Offensively Tanya Smith led the way, recording her sixth double-double of the year with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Keisha Kanekoa had 13 points and three assists and Saundra Cariaga added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.
As a team the Rainbow Wahine shot 35.3 percent from the field, but their defense kept them in the game, holding Western Carolina to 36.7 percent from the field.
In the first half, the Rainbow Wahine battled back and forth with the Lady Catamounts, exchanging leads four times, while the score was tied four times. Western Carolina had a big advantage from the free throw line, going 11 for 14 from the line, leading to a 34-28 halftime lead.
While Western Carolina went to the free throw line 14 times, Hawaii only went to the line twice, coming with 30 seconds left in the half.
Offensively, Smith recorded a double-double in the first half, with 10 points and 11 rebounds. She played all 20 minutes and had five offensive boards.
Cariaga had six points and Megan Tinnin had four points off the bench for the Rainbow Wahine.
Game 1 - Oregon State 78, Tennessee Tech 55
In the opening game of the classic, Oregon State controlled the entire game, never trailing as it led by 13 points going into halftime. The Beavers went on to win 78-55.
With the win the Beavers improved to 5-3 overall, while Tennessee Tech fell to 1-7. Oregon State will face Western Carolina Saturday at 11 a.m., while Tennessee Tech will face Hawaii at 1 p.m.
Offensively, Oregon State was led by Ashley Allen, who had 24 and Brittney Davis had 18. Tennessee Tech was led by Kristina Tyler and Jasmine White, who each had 11 points.
-UH-