LAS VEGAS – Outscoring the Wildcats 49-25 in the second half, the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball team (4-5) came back to beat Kansas State (4-6) 71-61 in the first round of the Duel in the Desert at Cox Arena Saturday.

 

Dita Liepkalne had 15 points and eight assists to lead UH, while Julita Bungaite had her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Breanna Arbuckle added 12 points and six boards while Leilani Galdones had 13 points.

 

Kansas State came out with a barrage of three-point bombs, hitting eight from deep in the first 13 minutes of the game to go ahead 30-10. Hawai'i responded with a big 9-0 run later in the half, cutting it back to 33-22. The Wildcats kept hitting from deep throughout the half, holding a 36-22 lead at the end of the half on the strength of 10 three-pointers.

 

The Rainbow Wahine came out running to start the second half, using a 15-4 run out of the gates to cut the deficit back to 40-37. A six-point UH run later tied it up at 43-43, only to see a 6-0 K-State run get it back up to 49-43. Galdones led the charge to give Hawai'i its first lead of the game, hitting a layup and a three to give them their first lead at 50-49 with 8:07 left. Galdones added another three in the midst of a 13-0 run that put the Rainbow Wahine ahead 56-49.

 

Hawai'i was able to close it out down the stretch, thanks in part to clutch free throws by Liepkalne, Keisha Kanekoa, Arbuckle and Galdones, making the final score 71-61.

 

UH will play host UNLV in the Duel in the Desert semifinal game tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. HT).

 

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