Box Score Box Score

NEW YORK, N.Y.—The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team (2-7) won a physical game over Columbia (1-7), 66-55 at Levien Gymnasium in New York, N.Y. Sophomore forward Kamilah Jackson recorded her 17th career double-double to lead the 'Bows to their farthest road win in school history.

Jackson posted a team-high 16 points and game-high 11 rebounds to lead Hawai`i. She was 4-of-9 from the floor—including a three-pointer—and 7-of-12 from the free throw line. She also had two blocks, a steal and an assist.

Senior forward Courtney Gaddis scored a career-high 14 points, shooting 3-of-4—including 2-of-2 from beyond the arch—and was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. She was also second on the team with six rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench.

Scoring a season-high in points was sophomore Shawna-Lei Kuehu, who notched 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting. She was 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. She also filled the stat line with four rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Seeing her first playing time of the season was senior center Carlotta Mingo, who went to Harcum College in New York for her first two seasons before transferring to UH. Mingo scored two points and grabbed a rebound off the bench.

Hawai`i set the tone early, jumping out to a quick 7-2 lead before Columbia settled down and came back on a 9-1 run of their own to take a four point lead. Eventually, the Lions would build as big a lead as six point before UH battled back, and ended the half on a 10-3 run, capped by a 3-point shot drained with 13 seconds left by Gaddis.

The Rainbow Wahine came out firing in the second half, starting off with a blistering 13-3 run. Columbia tried to make a comeback, but Hawai`i held off the Lions and never looked back with Kuehu and Gaddis leading the charge with seven points a piece in the second half.

Turnovers plagued the Rainbow Wahine in the first half, as they committed 17 in the first half alone. But Columbia was unable to capitalize, getting just six points on the UH miscues. Conversely, in the second half, the 'Bows took better care of the ball, turning it over just five times. UH actually outscored the Lions off turnovers, 21-to-10 and Hawai`i also won the battle in the paint, 20-to-16. But Columbia outscored UH's thin bench, 35-to-17—over half of which came from Taylor Ward's 20 points. Ward was 7-of-13 with six 3-pointers made.

The win snapped a seven game losing streak and was the first over a Division I opponent this season.

Hawai`i now has 15 days off before hosting their next tournament, the Bank of Hawaii featuring Portland State, Denver, and UC Davis from Dec. 18-20, 2011.