Game Notes

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team hits the road for a single game against UC Riverside on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as one of the Big West's three women's basketball games to be carried this season. The Rainbow Wahine fell in an overtime heartbreaker to Cal Poly, 74-78 to open Big West play at home. But the 'Bows refocused, shook off the loss, and bounced back to defeat a scrappy Cal State Northridge squad, 54-44. UH's defense stymied the Matadors' offense while jumping out to a 15-0 lead to start the game. Hawai'i held CSUN to a season low 44 points which is 10 points below their season average.
 
Hawai'i continues to be led by senior forward Kamilah Jackson, who is just the second Rainbow Wahine in history to lead the team in both points and rebounds. Jackson is averaging a team-high 16.1 points and 10.1 rebounds. She has recorded a conference-high nine double-doubles this season and 52 in her stellar career. Jackson also leads UH making 57-of-87 free throws. In the NCAA active career rankings, Jackson is No. 4 with a 10.6 rebound average and No. 5 in rebounds with 1,095. She has scored in double digits in 12-of-14 games this season and secured double-figure rebounds in nine games this season—including a season high 16 twice against Colorado State and Cal Poly.
 
Whether as a starter or a reserve, the versatile Ashleigh Karaitiana has posted solid numbers in whatever role she is asked to fill throughout this season. The Hamilton, New Zealand native is second on the team averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 17 made 3-pointers. Karaitiana has scored at least 10 points in seven of UH's last nine games and has led the 'Bows in scoring four games this season.
 
Shawna-Lei Kuehu, the team's "Swiss army knife", is third on the squad averaging just a shade under 10 points a game at 9.3 while leading UH with 14 blocks. Kuehu consistently notches solid numbers across the board to fill her box score every night. She has 58 rebounds, 24 assists, and 15 steals through UH's first 14 games. Destiny King has also emerged as a leader for the team this season, averaging 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. King leads UH with 35 assists and has started UH's last eight games. Senior Sydney Haydel—last year's Big West Defensive Player of the Year—has worked hard in the off season to raiser her offensive game. And the hard work has paid off as she is averaging a career-high 6.9 points and has scored over 10 points four times this season—including a career-high 18 against Cal Poly in which she shot a career-best 4-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arch.
 
The UC Riverside Highlanders come into the weekend with a 4-11 overall record and a 0-2 mark in conference.  But the Highlanders have played just three home games thus far while going 2-7 on the road and 1-2 on a neutral court. UCR is looking to snap its eight game losing streak against the 'Bows. The Highlanders average 69.1 points a game while shooting .422 from the floor. Four Highlanders are averaging over 10 points a game, led by Brittany Crain's 19.6 points per game. She is shooting .508 and has made a team-best 25 treys while averaging 6.4 rebounds. Crain is also tied for the team lead with 27 steals. Annelise Ito is scoring 12.3 points with a team-high 7.0 rebounds a game. Natasha Hadley is scoring 11.3 points while pulling down 6.5 rebounds and blocking a team-high 15 shots, while Simone DeCoud is averaging 10.8 points while leading the Highlanders with 56 assists and 27 steals.
 
Game 15 Information
Who: Hawai'i (7-7, 1-1 Big West) vs. UC Riverside (4-11, 0-2 Big West)
When: Saturday, January 18,2014 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: SRC Arena (2,750)
Television: ESPN3 telecast available to Oceanic Cable "Sports Pass" subscribers on channel 290
Streaming Video: WatchESPN.com
Live Stats: Live in-game stats will be available at GoHighlanders.com
Coaches: Head coach Laura Beeman is in her second year at UH. She has a 24-21 record at Hawai'i. At Mt. San Antonio, she recorded a 390-110 record in the junior college ranks. Overall she has a 414-131 career record as a head coach.
Series History: Hawai'I is 3-0 all-time against the Highlanders. UH won last year's two meetings. UH downed UCR, 65-50 on Jan. 5, 2013 in Riverside and in Honolulu on Mar. 7, 2013, 67-57.