Box Score

LOS ANGELES - The University of Hawaii came out sluggish in the first half, but made a late second half run before eventually falling 78-72 to Portland State Thursday night, in the opening game of the Women of Troy Classic at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

After a slow start in the first half, the Rainbow Wahine showed life in the second half, making a strong run and cutting a once 24-point lead by the Vikings to a two-point lead with 17 seconds left in the game. Portland State hit free throws late in the game to ice the game.

Tanya Smith and Saundra Cariaga led the Rainbow Wahine, who fell to 4-6 on the season. Smith had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Cariaga added 13 points.

UH will face Grambling State on Friday, the final day of the classic, at 4:45 p.m. Grambling State lost to USC in the late game Thursday at the Galen Center. Portland State will face USC in the championship of the two-day classic at 7 p.m. Friday night.

Joining Smith and Cariaga in double figures was three other Rainbow Wahine players. Dita Liepkalne came close to her second career double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Keisha Kanekoa and Megan Tinnin each had 11 points.

As a team, UH shot 43.8 percent from the field and outrebounded Portland State 38-36. But the Rainbow Wahine committed 27 turnovers and scored 22 points in the first half.

In the opening half, the Rainbow Wahine were close in the opening 10 minutes of the half, trailing by a couple of points midway through.

But Portland State hit seven 3-pointers in the opening half and connected on 43.8 percent of their shots to extend their halftime lead to 43-22.

UH was led by Cariaga in the first half, who scored eight points on 4 of 9 shooting from the field. Keisha Kanekoa had five points and Tanya Smith added four points. The Rainbow Wahine were hurt by 15 turnovers and 32.1 percent shooting in the half.

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