Box Score
RUSTON, La. -
Cassidy Chretien hit two free throws with six seconds remaining to give the University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine basketball team a 60-59 win over Louisiana Tech Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center. The win was UH's first-ever in six trips to Ruston and just its second win in 19 all-time meetings versus the Lady Techsters.
UH extended its win streak to four games, including three straight on the road. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 11-12 and moved to 5-6 in the Western Athletic Conference. UH halted the Lady Techsters' (13-11, 8-3 WAC) five-game win streak and handed them their third home loss in the last month. Prior to its losses to Boise State, Nevada and Hawai`i, Louisiana Tech had won 114 straight home conference games, a streak dating back 15 years.
It was a sweet homecoming for Chretien, a native of Lake Charles, La. She finished with eight points, none bigger than the final two free throws of the game. Chretien was part of a balanced attack that saw nine different Rainbow Wahine score, including a team-high 10 points by Janevia Taylor.
The Rainbow Wahine went ahead midway through the first half, building its lead to as many as eight, before taking a six-point advantage at the break. UH extended its lead to as many as nine points on three occasions in the second half and led by five with less than two minutes remaining.
Despite leading for the majority of the game, it briefly looked like UH's upset bid would fall short. The Lady Techsters scored six straight points, including two free throws by Shan Moore with 18 second left, to move ahead, 59-58.
Eboni Mangum, however, fouled a penetrating Chretien on the ensuing possession. After Chretien hit the go-ahead free throws, the Lady Techsters had one more opportunity. Moore, who finished with a game-high 20 points, dribbled the length of the court, but was stripped of the ball by Taylor just inside the key as the buzzer sounded to seal the UH upset.
For the second straight game, UH got the job done defensively, playing tough inside with six blocks and holding the Lady Techsters to just 32 percent shooting. The Rainbow Wahine shot 38 percent from the floor, including 50 percent in the first half.
Hawai`i returns home for its final three home games of the year, beginning with a meeting versus Fresno State on Thursday, Feb. 15. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.
-UH-