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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team took a giant step towards a postseason berth with a 55-53 come-from-behind win over San Jose State Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Keisha Kanekoa scored 20 points, including the game winning basket with eight seconds left to lift UH to victory.
With the win the seventh-place Rainbow Wahine (10-17) improved to 4-10 in league play and moved closer to the eighth and final spot in next month's Western Athletic Conference Tournament. UH leads eighth place San Jose State (2-11 WAC) and Boise State (2-11 WAC).
The Rainbow Wahine trailed for most of the game, but held the Spartans (2-24) scoreless in the final 3:50, while reeling off the final seven points of the game to pull out a gritty win.
Kamilah Jackson added 12 points and nine rebounds and
Megan Tinnin scored 10 of her 11 points in the decisive second half to help lead the Bows to victory. The Rainbow Wahine enjoyed huge advantages on the glass (41-25) and at the free throw line (31-14 on attempts).
UH got off to a slow start and eventually went down by as many as 11 points, 19-8, midway through the first half, before cutting the deficit to 33-26 at the break.
The Rainbow Wahine scored the first 11 points of the second half and back-to-back three pointers by
Megan Tinnin gave UH a 37-33 edge, its first lead since the opening moments of the game. San Jose State responded with 13-4 to go back up by six points.
San Jose State led by five, 53-48, until UH made its final push. Kanekoa's put back of a
Sydney Haydel jumper with eight second left gave the Rainbow Wahine a 54-53 lead. UH drew a charge on San Jose State's last possession and Kankoa nailed one of two free throws with three seconds left for the final score.
UH won despite the absence of Shawna Lei-Kuehu, the team's leading scorer (10.3 ppg) in conference play,
The Rainbow Wahine continue its final home stand of the year with a game against Fresno State on Sunday, Feb. 27. Tipoff is a 5:00 p.m.
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