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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball team continued its winning ways with a 67-57 victory over UC Riverside Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. With the win UH improved to 16-12 overall and 12-5 in the Big West.
 
It was the team's fifth win in its last six contests, while UH moved its home record to 7-1 in Big West contests.  The 12 league wins are the team's most since the 2001-02 squad finished 14-4 in the Western Athletic Conference and qualified for the WNIT.
 
The Rainbow Wahine  remained in third place in the conference standings but are still in the hunt for the No. 2 seed and a possible double-bye for next week's Big West Tournament heading into the team's regular-season finale on Saturday.  
 
It wasn't an easy contest for the Rainbow Wahine who faced a scrappy Highlander (11-17, 4-13 BWC) squad battling for a spot of its own in next week's league tournament. UCR erased a second half double-digit deficit, but UH built its lead back to double-digits and wouldn't relent.     
 
Kamilah Martin led the Rainbow Wahine by notching her 12th double-double of the season with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Meanwhile, Vicky Tagalicod provided UH with a huge boost off the bench, finishing with season-high 18 points and providing a number of timely baskets for the 'Bows. Shawna Lei-Kuehu chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
The beginning of the game was tight and after being down 14-12 early on the Rainbow Wahine but together a 10-2 run to put themselves up by six. UH extended its lead to 37-29 lead on a Tagalicod 3-pointer in the final minute of the first half, a lead it would take into the locker room as the 'Bows ended up shooting 52 percent in the first half
 
A Martin free throw in the opening moments of the second half gave UH its first double-digit lead of the game, 38-28. UCR, however, didn't fold and battled back to tie the game, 39-39. Enter Tagalicod who scored two straight basket to put UH back up by four. Tagalicod's buckets sparked a decisive 16-3 run as UH built a commanding 55-42 lead with less than eight minutes remaining.
 
UCR rallied again but could get no closer than five points as the Rainbow Wahine completed the season sweep of the Highlanders. It was UCR's seventh straight loss overall.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will conclude its regular season at home with a Senior Night contest versus Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. Four Rainbow Wahine will be honored following the game, including seniors Monica DeAngelis and Stephanie Ricketts and departing players Kanisha Bello and Tagalicod.