Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The University of Hawai`i Rainbow Wahine basketball team put the clamps on New Mexico State for a 57-46 win Thursday night at the Pan American Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved to 10-12 overall and 4-6 in the Western Athletic Conference with their third straight win.

Hawai`i gave one of its best defensive performances of the year, holding the Aggies to just 46 points and 23 percent shooting, both season lows for a UH opponent. The Rainbow Wahine also beat the Aggies on the boards, grabbing a season-high 52 boards, to New Mexico State's 44.

After a miserable January, UH has found a little momentum. The three-game win streak is the team's longest of the season and the Rainbow Wahine have now won back-to-back road games, following a four-game slide away from home. UH moved into a tie for sixth in the WAC standings with New Mexico State, who have now lost five of its last six games.

Tanya Smith led the way for UH with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Pam Tambini chipped in 13 points. The Aggies got production from just two players as Anikia Jawara (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Sherell Neal (19 points, 15 rebounds) combined for 33 of the Aggies' 46 points.

It was an ugly start for both teams as they combined for nine turnovers and missed 20 of their first 24 shots in the first eight minutes alone. UH tallied just six points in the first 10 minutes of the game and trailed by four points, before making a decisive run. The Rainbow Wahine scored 11 unanswered points to seize the lead and finished with 22 points in the final 10 minutes of the half to take a 28-19 lead at the break.

UH scored the first six points of the second half and when Iwona Zagrobelna completed a three-point play, the Rainbow Wahine enjoyed its biggest lead of the game, 37-20, less than five minutes into the second half. The Aggies did make one final push, cutting the UH lead to six points with a little more than four minutes remaining. Hawai`i, however, would score five straight points to retain a double-digit lead and would not be threatened again.

The Rainbow Wahine next travel to Ruston, La., to take on second-place Louisiana Tech, Saturday, Feb. 10. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. CST (3:00 HST).

-UH-