Box Score

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team led the entire game Monday night, and held on late to beat Washington State 65-59 at the Stan Sheriff Center. The two teams split the two-game series.

 

UH jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the first half. The Rainbow Wahine jumped out to a 17-point advantage and hung on in the second half for the victory. UH improved to 3-8 on the season, while Washington State fell to 7-3.

 

The Rainbow Wahine played solid defense all night and didn't back down when the Cougars tied the game 51-51 with 3:20 left in the game. UH finished the game on a 14-8 run, making clutch free throws down the stretch.

 

Offensively, Megan Tinnin notched her first 20-point game of the season, going 7-for-11 from the field and making six free throws. Tinnin's 20 points came without a 3-pointer made and she added eight rebounds.

 

Making her first start in four games, Sarah Ilic had 15 points and six rebounds, to go along with four steals. Dita Liepkalne added five points and 11 rebounds and Breanna Arbuckle had eight points and five rebounds off the bench.

 

Defensively the Rainbow Wahine held the Cougars to 17.9 percent shooting from the field in the first half and held them to 32.8 percent shooting for the game. UH also out-rebounded Washington State 47-35.

 

In the first half, Tinnin led the way with 10 points as UH led 31-16. Washington State went 2-for-8 from long range in the first half, after attempting 37 3-pointers in the game on Friday night.

 

UH will take 10 days off before returning to the Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine face Pepperdine at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 2 in the first game of the Jack in the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic.