Box Score

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team (5-6) pulled away from Columbia (0-10), 71-46 in their opener of the Pepsi Rainbow Wahine Invitational. Freshman Kamilah Jackson recorded her sixth double-double to pace the 'Bows scoring19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds in front of a crowd of 1,660 on Tuesday night.

 

Hawai`i snapped their five-game losing streak by dominating in the paint, scoring 42 of their 71 points in the key. The 'Bows hit a team season-high .549 field goal percentage (28-of-51). The Rainbow Wahine also had a decisive advantage on the glass, out-rebounding the Lions 54-to-23. But UH lost the turnover battle, giving the ball up 31 times to Columbia's 18.

 

Jackson continued her consistent play for the 'Bows. She was a perfect 7-for-7 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. It marked the seventh time this season that Jackson has scored in double figures. She also filled the stat line with an assist, a block and a steal in 31 minutes of action.

 

Jackson was one of three UH players to post double digits in points. Megan Tinnin added 16 points with three 3-pointers made. She also contributed with five rebounds, an assist and two steals. Shawna-Lei Kuehu added eight points and tied her career-high with nine assists to go with her four rebounds, one block and one steal in the game. Breanna Arbuckle chipped in 10 points on the night on 4-of-6 shooting and Rebecca Dew secured seven rebounds with six points in 17 minutes of action.

 
Senior guard Keisha Kanekoa scored five points, bringing her career total to 189 points. She now needs just 11 points to become the 16th Rainbow Wahine player in history to score 1,000 points.

The Rainbow Wahine took a 38-25 lead over the Lions into halftime. Hawai`i's “bigs” helped give the 'Bows the lead going into the half. Jackson led all scorers going 6-for-6 from the floor for 16 points and seven rebounds, while Arbuckle added eight points and three boards for Hawai`i.

 

But early in the second half, Columbia went on a 12-3 run and eventually cut UH's lead down to six points. UH then ramped up its offense and defense going on a 22-0 run to pull away from the Lions and put the game away.

 

Columbia's Brianna Orlich posted team-highs with 11 points and four rebounds to lead the Lions.

 

The Pepsi Rainbow Wahine Invitational continues tomorrow with the 'Bows battling CSU Bakersfield at 7:00 p.m. UNLV will face Columbia in the early game that starts at 5:00 p.m.

 

                                                                                                                          -UH-