Box Score

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team (4-1) came back twice to force double-overtime and then held off Mississippi (4-2), 64-57. In front of it's largest crowd of the season (1,901), Keisha Kanekoa scored a career-high 25 points and tied the UH single-game record with six 3-pointers made, while Megan Tinnin became Hawai`i's career 3-point record holder with 129 treys made on Saturday at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

After Hawai`i held the lead for the entire first half, Mississippi chipped away and eventually took the lead for the first time with 9:12 remaining in the game. The Rebels built a lead as big as six points with 2:13 remaining, but a free throw made by Kamilah Jackson and a layup by Breanna Arbuckle brought UH to within three-points with 1:10 left in regulation. Later, still down by three points, Kanekoa was clutch, forcing overtime by sinking a 3-pointer with about eight seconds left on the clock.

 

In the first overtime, Ole Miss' Pa'Sonna Hope drained a layup to lift Mississippi to a two-point lead. UH was down 57-55 with six seconds left when Kanekoa drained a pair of foul shots to force the second overtime.

 

In the second overtime period, UH held the Rebels off the scoreboard and scored seven points to seal the win. Four points came off of two Jackson layups. Then UH got another layup by Shawna-Lei Kuehu and Tinnin sunk one free throw to give UH its first double-overtime win since defeating Fresno State on Feb. 7, 1991, 82-79 in Honolulu. The only other double-overtime game for Hawai`i was a loss to New Mexico State on Jan. 4, 2006 (69-72).

 

In the first half, the 'Bows built a lead as big as 13 points, but Mississippi trimmed it down to two points with 1:10 left on the clock. Hawai`i responded to close the half with a Kanekoa trey and a jumpshot by Kuehu to give UH a 36-29 lead at the break. Kanekoa was four-of-five from beyond the arc in the first half to lead UH with 12 points. Jackson grabbed five rebounds (four offensive), and Kuehu led the 'bows with four assists.

 

Hawai`i was outrebounded by Mississippi 50-to-46, but for the second straight game, the 'Bows won the turnover battle by forcing 20 Rebel turnovers to just 17 for UH.

 

Three UH players scored in the double-digits for the second straight night. Kanekoa led all scorers with 25 points—6-of-11 from 3-point-land. Her six treys ties her with Jade Abele (vs. Tennesse Tech, 12/23/03), Kate McMeeken-Ruscoe (vs. TCU, 2/10/00), Elizabeth Sirchia (vs. San Jose State, 2/7/92) and current teammate Tinnin (vs. Idaho, 2/28,08) for the UH single-game record. She also grabbed seven rebounds and had three assists on the night in 48 minutes played.
 

Tinnin posted 10 points—nine of which came on a trio of 3-pointers that moved Tinnin past former UH great, Nani Cockett's previous record of 128 which was set in 1998. Tinnin, who took a red-shirt year last season, now owns the UH single-season record in 3-pointers made with 55 (which she set in 2009 as a junior) and now the UH career record as well.

 

Jackson tallied her second career double-double in as many nights, scoring 11 points and snatching 12 rebounds in 36 minutes. Kuehu dished out a career-high nine assists while scoring five points with six rebounds, a block and a steal to help UH to the win.

 

Mississippi (4-2) had four players in double figures, led by Pa'Sonna Hope's 12 points. She also had nine rebounds and two blocks. Valencia McFarland tallied 11 points, while both Courtny Marbra and Nikki Byrd had 10 points a piece. Marbra also had 12 rebounds to lead the Rebels.

 

The Rainbow Wahine are off to its best start since 2001-02, when the Vince Goo led team got off to a 4-1 start. Hawai`i is now 4-10 against Southeastern Conference schools. It marked the first win over an SEC opponent since UH defeated Kentucky on Dec. 14, 2002.

 

Results from Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown
DAY 2
Washington State 87, Long Beach State 55
Illinois 69, North Carolina Central 52
No. 14 North Carolina87, Illinois 58
Hawai`i 64, Mississippi 57 (2OT)

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2010
Game 9: Long Beach State vs. North Carolina Central - 11:15 am
Game 10: Washington State vs. Gonzaga - 1:30 pm
Game 11: Mississippi vs. Illinois - 3:45 pm
Game 12: HAWAI'I vs. No. 14 NORTH CAROLINA, 6:00 pm



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