TEMPE, Ariz. - The fourth-ranked University of Hawai`i women's water polo team finished in fourth place today on the final day of the 2007 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, dropping a 14-7 decision to No. 3 USC at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.

The Rainbow Wahine fall to 17-10 on the year and 2-2 in the MPSF Championship while the Trojans improve to 20-5 and 2-1.

The Trojans struck first with Erika Figge turning in a 5-meter penalty shot in the opening minute. Lisa van Raalte hammered through her first goal on a 6-on-5 situation to tie it at 5:17. USC then posted five-straight goals to lead 6-1 at the end of the first.

Kami Craig made it a six-goal lead with a power-play goal in the second, but Amy Logan countered on a man-up with 5:33 left. Veronika Bartunkova skipped in a shot through the left side, but just before the half Kelly Mason converted a 6-on-5 and Logan added her second on a lob in transition to trail 8-4 at the half.

The Trojans pumped in four goals and held the Rainbow Wahine scoreless in the third to take a commanding 12-4 lead.

USC's Lucas pumped in her second goal. Angela Turnbull finally stopped the bleeding with her 12th goal of the tournament with just under four minutes left in the fourth. van Raalte squeezed through her second tally and Brittany Dames capped the scoring for UH whipping in a pass from Emily Cox with 30 seconds left. USC added one late goal for the final margin, 14-7.

Hawai`i awaits the NCAA Championship selection show Monday, April 30, at 3:00 p.m. HST to be televised on CSTV. If the Rainbow Wahine are selected as one of the three at-large teams, they head to Long Beach, Calif., Tuesday, May 8. The NCAA Championship is slated for May 11-13 at the Joint Armed Force Base in Los Alamitos, hosted by Long Beach State.

	

Match No. 27 - 2:20 p.m. PST

MPSF Championship – Third Place

Tempe, Ariz. – Mona Plummer Aquatic Center



Scoring by Quarters	1	2	3	4		Final

Hawai`i 		1	3	0	3	-	7

USC		5	3	4	2	-	14



UH Goals:  Lisa van Raalte (2), Amy Logan (2), Kelly Mason, Brittany Dames, Angela Turnbull.

UH Goalie Saves:  Meike De Nooy (12).

USC Goals:  Brittany Hayes (3), Erika Figge (2), Kami Craig (2), Jana Wenger (2), Kally Lucas (2), Alexandra Kiss, Patty Cardenas, Veronika Bartunkova.

USC Goalie Saves:  Tumua Anae (7).

-UH-