Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - After a solid performance in the first half, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team struggled offensively in the second half, coming up short in a 74-54 loss against Fresno State Thursday night at the Save Mart Center.

The Rainbow Wahine trailed 35-30 at halftime against the Bulldogs, but an 11-0 run to start the second half had UH trailing 46-30 with 16 minutes left in the game. UH would never recover.

With the loss UH falls to 6-10 overall and 0-3 in WAC play. Fresno State improves to 9-8 overall, and lead the WAC with a 4-0 record.

Offensively Saundra Cariaga scored a career-high 17 points, coming off the bench on 7 of 10 shooting. Tanya Smith was the only other Rainbow Wahine in double figures with 10 points. Smith grabbed 11 rebounds to give her seven straight double-doubles and 12 on the season.

As a team the Rainbow Wahine shot 40.8 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from long range. Fresno State shot 41.4 percent from the field and 24 percent from 3-point range. But UH had 25 turnovers to Fresno State's 15.

In the opening half, the Rainbow Wahine shot the ball well from the outside, and went 4 for 8 from long range to keep right in the game with the Bulldogs. UH only turned the ball over 11 times and trailed 35-30 at the break.

Saundra Cariaga led the way offensively with 13 points on 6 of 7 shooting. Cariaga came off the bench for the first time this year and sparked UH.

Dita Liepkalne had five points and Tanya Smith added six rebounds and two points. As a team UH had 10 assists in the half, but the Rainbow Wahine didn't attempt a free throw.

UH returns to action Saturday night when it faces San Jose State at 5 p.m. (HST) at the Event Center in San Jose. Saturday's game will be the final of four consecutive road games for the Rainbow Wahine.

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