Game Notes
The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team hits the road for the second time this season as it travels to Corvallis, Ore. and Stockton, Calif. for a pair of non-conference games at Oregon State (5-2. 0-0 PAC-12) on Dec. 13 and Pacific (4-3, 0-0 WCC) on Dec. 15 respectively.
Hawai'i (5-3, 0-0 Big West) returns to the court following an 11-day lay-off after capturing the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown with a thrilling overtime win over Minnesota on Dec. 1.
Shawna-Lei Kuehu stunned the Golden Gophers at the buzzer as she banked in a 3-pointer as time expired forcing overtime with the score at 66-66. In the extra period, UH pulled away to win 77-71 to earn its first win over a Big 10 opponent since 1998 and claim its first tourney title since 2004.
Hawai'i currently is tied for the top spot in the BWC with Long Beach State at 5-3 in the pre-season and the 'Bows are the top ranked team in scoring defense, allowing just 66.1 points a game. The 'Bows are also leading the conference in 3-point field goal percentage (31-for-96, 32.3%) as well as 3-point field goal percentage defense, allowing 44-for-165 for a 26.7% average.
The Rainbow Wahine continue to be led by senior
Kamilah Jackson who is averaging 18.3 points and 10.9 rebounds a game. Jackson has recorded double-doubles in UH's last six games. Junior
Ashleigh Karaitiana is second on the team averaging 10.3 points and 4.9 boards a game while leading the team with 13 treys made—including a career-high four sank against Minnesota. Kuehu is also averaging double-digits in points with 10 a game with 4.4 rebounds a game and a team-high 10 blocked shots while
Destiny King is having a solid sophomore season, appearing in all eight games and starting in the last two. The versatile King, who can play the point or on the wings, has dished out a team-high 23 assists while scoring 6.8 points and grabbing 4.8 rebounds an outing. Senior
Sydney Haydel, who has always been known for her defense, has amped up her offensive game this year, averaging 6.6 points a game to go with 3.5 rebounds and seven steals.
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Rainbow Wahine Quick Notes...
LAST TIME OUT...Hawai'i went 2-1 in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown. The 'Bows fell in overtime in the tourney opener to Colorado State, but bounced back to knock off a scrappy Chattanooga team and then Minnesota in their second overtime game in three days.Â
-Hawai'i is tied with Long Beach State atop the current Big West standings with a 5-3 non-conference record. The Rainbow Wahine also lead defensively allowing a a league-low, 66.1 points per game as well as a conference-best .267 3-point field goal percentage on offense. On the glass, the 'Bows are atop the Big West with a +2.6 rebounding margin.
Kamilah Jackson leads the league with 10.9 rebounds per game, just ahead of Cal Poly's Molly Schlemer's 10.8. Jackson is also first in field goal percentage (.540) and third in scoring (18.3 points).
-After hosting two tournaments in November, Hawai'i will go on a pair of roadtrips in December to finish the calendar year on the mainland. First the 'Bows will travel to Corvallis, Ore. to take on Oregon State on Dec. 13 before heading down to Stockton, Calif. to battle former Big West foe, Pacific on Dec. 15. UH will return home for finals week and then return the mainland one last time in 2013 to face USC on Dec. 21 and then Grand Canyon on Dec. 23rd.Â
-Hawai'i's game vs. Oregon State will mark the third of four UH games against a PAC-12 opponent. Hawai'i fell in the season opener at Arizona State and defeated Washington State in their home opener to go 1-1 against the PAC-12 thus far this season. Hawai'i will play USC on their final non-conference roadtrip of the season on Saturday, Dec. 21.
-The 'Bows return to the court after  an 11-day layoff after their second and final four-team tournament of the year. The Rainbow Wahine will not play in the Stan Sheriff Center again until Jan. 8 when they open Big West play against Cal Poly.Â
-Senior forward
Kamilah Jackson is leading the 'Bows for the fourth straight year in points and rebounds per game. She is averaging 18.3 points and 10.9 boards a game and has recorded six straight double-doubles. Jackson earned Big West Player of the Week honors for Dec. 2 and is one of 52 NCAA DI nominees announced for the Allstate Good Hands Award.
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Ashleigh Karaitiana is making her mark and filling whatever role is needed of her. She has appeared in all eight games while starting four--including the last two. Karaitiana is second on the team with 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. She also leads UH with 13 3-pointers made and is second with eight steals. She has scored in double-digits in five games thus far--including a 22-point performance vs. Minnesota which tied her career-high. Against the Golden Gophers, she also drained a career-high four treys en route to the win.
-Sophomore utitlity player
Destiny King has posted solid numbers across the board for the 'Bows. She is averaging 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game and leads the team with 23 assists and a .792 free-throw percentage (19-for-24).Â
-UH head coach
Laura Beeman is now 22-17 in her second season at Hawai'i. Overall, when you combine her record from Mt. SAC (JC) with her DI record at UH, Beeman has a 412-127 mark as a head coach.
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Game 9 Tipoff Notes
Who:Â Hawai'i (5-3, 0-0 Big West) at Oregon State (5-2, 0-0 PAC-12)
When:Â Friday, Dec. 13, 2013
Time:Â 7:00 p.m. PT
Where: Gill Coliseum (9,604) – Corvallis, Ore.
Audio Webcast:Â Live audio streaming will be available at www.osubeavers.com
Live Stats:Â Live in-game stats are available at www.osubeavers.com
Head Coaches:Â
Laura Beeman is in her second season at UH with a 22-17 record at UH. As the head coach at Mt. San Antonio, Beeman tallied a 390-111 record with the Mounties at the JC level. Scott Rueck is in his fourth season at Oregon State with a 45-57 record in three seasons. Overall, in 17-plus seasons, Rueck has a 331-145 career record.
Series Information: Oregon State holds a slim lead over Hawai'i, 5-4. UH won the last meeting in 2010, when the 'Bows defeated the Beavers, 54-49 on Nov. 21.Â
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Game 10 Tipoff Notes
Who: Hawai'i (5-3, 0-0 Big West) at Pacific (4-3, 0-0 WCC)
When: Sunday, Dec. 15
Time: 1:00 p.m. PT
Where: Alex G. Spanos Center (6,250) – Stockton, Calif.
Video Webcast: www.pacifictigers.com
Audio Webcast: Live audio streaming will be available at www.pacifictigers.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be available at www.pacifictigers.com
Head Coach: Pacific's head coach Lynne Roberts is in her eighth season with the Tigers with a 99-122 record.
Series Information: Hawai'i leads the series against former Big West rival, Pacific, 26-9. Last season, when the 'Bows rejoined the Big West Conference, the two teams split their regular season games. Pacific won in Stockton, 61-71, on Jan. 17, 2013, but UH knocked off the Tigers in Honolulu in an overtime thriller on Feb. 16, 74-71 to claim a share of first place in conference with three weeks left in the season.
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