Game Notes

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team (6-6, 0-0 BWC) opens Big West Conference play against three-time defending champions, Cal Poly (6-7, 0-0 BWC) on Wednesday, Jan. 8 and Cal State Northridge (4-10, 0-0 BWC) on Sunday, Jan. 11. The Rainbow Wahine returns home after 38 days away from the Stan Sheriff Center. Following UH's game against the Mustangs on Wednesday, the 'Bows will have an autograph session on the concourse level near Gate B. Prior to Sunday's game against the Matadors, the Rainbow Wahine will hold its annual Alumnae Game at 2:00 pm in which the team will honor the life, career, and passing of UH-great Judy Mosely.

Hawai'i is looking to shake off its most recent losses to start the conference season fresh. The Rainbow Wahine may have gone 1-3 in their last four games on the road, but Hawai'i's 6-6 start is its best since the 2006-07 season when the 'Bows also went 6-6 through the first 12 games. Hawai'i fell at Oregon State, 64-76 to start their first December road trip but bounced back with an epic win at Pacific in which the 'Bows erased an 18-point deficit in the first half to win 81-70. But on their second journey to the mainland, UH lost both games of the roadtrip for the first time under head coach Laura Beeman. The 'Bows fell at USC, 55-66 and ended 2013 with a tight 51-54 loss at Grand Canyon in Phoenix, Ariz.

Hawai'i is currently ranked at No. 61 in RPI and is No. 16 in strength of schedule out of 349 Division I teams, according to RealTimeRPI.com. In the NCAA RPI rankings, UH comes in at No. 62 but was ranked as high as 26 earlier this season. Ten of UH's 12 opponents this preseason have winning records. UH's non-conference opponents this year have tallied a combined 115-56 record overall. Seven of UH's 12 opponents already have racked up double-figures in wins--including Minnesota (11-4) and Chattanooga (12-3) both of which UH defeated. The 'Bows have played six home games and six road games across three different West Coast states. Hawai'i went 4-2 at the SSC and 2-4 on the mainland.  Senior Kamilah Jackson continues to lead the Rainbow Wahine, averaging 16.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She also leads UH making 50 free throws in a team-high 72 attempts. She has recorded eight double-doubles in UH's 12 games and has recorded double-digits in points in 11-of-12 games this season. Junior Ashleigh Karaitiana is second on the team, averaging a career-high 10.2 points per game to go with 4.9 rebounds a game. Utility players Shawna-Lei Kuehu and Destiny King have also posted solid numbers in the preseason. Kuehu is averaging just under 10 points a game with 9.4 and leads UH with 13 blocked shots while King is scoring 7.7 points a game with a team-high 28 assists. She is also second on the team averaging 5.2 rebounds a game. 


Game 13 Tipoff Notes