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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i women's basketball team fell in overtime to Cal Poly, 78-74 in both team's Big West opener on Wednesday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. In the battle between the top two teams picked in the Big West's preseason poll, Hawai`i led early and through 34 minutes, but it was Cal Poly who came away with the win. Hawai`i saw its 17-point first half lead slowly evaporate as the Mustangs battled back all game long, finally tying the game at the end of regulation to force overtime at 64-64. Sydney Haydel led Hawai`i with a career-high 18 points while hitting a career-high 4-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arch. Kamilah Jackson recorded her ninth double-double of the season with 17 points and tied her season-high with 16 rebounds in the loss. Hawai'i falls to 6-7 overall and 0-1 in the Big West while Cal Poly evened its overall record at 7-7 and is now 1-0 in conference.

It didn't take long for the 'Bows to shake off the rust in their first home game in 38 days and their first game in 16 days. In the first half, the Hawai`i traded baskets with Cal Poly early, but then started to pull away on a 22-to-4 run starting with 14:45 left in the first half. UH built their lead to as much as 17 points on a jumper by Ashleigh Karaitiana with 7:11 left in the first half. But, Cal Poly kept chipping away at the lead, closing the half with the momentum on an 8-to-0 run.  Hawai`i went into the half leading 37-28 with Jackson leading the Rainbow Wahine with 10 points and eight rebounds. UH was aggressive on offense and it reflected in the free throws as they made 15-of-20 while Cal Poly went to the line just five times, making three.

The Mustangs carried their momentum into the second half, scoring the first six points after the break before Destiny King was able to stop CP's streak with a layup that gave UH a 39-34 lead with 17:21 left in the game. King's bucket sparked a 5-to-0 run for UH that gave them back a nine point lead with 14 minutes left on the clock. The Rainbow Wahine held off Cal Poly's charges for much of the second half. Haydel sank her second trey of the game with three minutes left to give the 'Bows a six point lead, but CP's Ariana Elegado and Jonae Ervin both hit two free throws apiece to bring them to within two points of Hawai`i. Then, UH's King hit one of two free throws for a three point lead with 21-seconds left. Cal Poly's next trip down the floor resulted in a Kalei Adolpho steal and she raced towards UH's basket before she was fouled. She made one-of-two free throws to give UH a four point lead with 11-seconds left. Ervin then drove for a layup and was fouled with four seconds left. Ervin intentionally missed the free throw and Cal Poly got the rebound, missed the first put-back, but Taryn Garza hit the second attempt to tie the game as the time expired to force overtime.

Haydel started the overtime period with a bang, hitting her third trey of the night to give UH a 67-64 lead. But Ervin answered right back, draining a 3-pointer of her own to tie the game at 67-67. UH and Cal Poly would trade baskets once more before the Mustangs took the lead for good with two minutes left in the extra period. Cal Poly outscored UH 14-10 in OT. Hawai`i is now 1-2 in overtime games this season and 3-2 under head coach Laura Beeman.

Haydel bettered her career-high by one point with her 18 on the night. She hit on 6-of-13 shots and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the land of three. She added four rebounds, two assists and a steal for the game. Jackson was 5-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-12 from the free throw line. Her 16 rebounds tied her season high that she set against Colorado State on Nov. 29. Also scoring in double figures was Ashleigh Karaitiana who poured in 15 points off the bench. She has now posted double-digit points in six of UH's last eight games.

As a team, Hawai`i out-rebounded Cal Poly, 54-46 in the game, but the Mustangs had the advantage in the paint, outscoring UH, 34-26 and edged the 'Bows 16-to-14 in points off of turnovers. Hawai`i's reserves outscored Cal Poly's bench 24-to-5. But after shooting 75% from the charity stripe in the first half, Hawai`i shot just 7-for-14 in the second half for 50% while the Mustangs hit 80% of their free throws in the second half (12-of-15). Hawai'i is now 19-11 in overall conference openers and 13-5 in conference home openers. UH has lost eight straight conference openers (2007-12 in the WAC and 2013-14 in the BWC).

Cal Poly's Ervin scored a career-high 37 points, one point shy of tying the Stan Sheriff scoring record of 38 points which was set twice by LaRissa Thomas of Tennessee State (vs. Cleveland State) on Dec. 17, 2001 and Becky Hammond of Colorado State vs. Hawai'i on Feb. 15, 1997.

Next up for Hawai`i is Cal State Northridge (4-10, 0-0 Big West) on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Prior to the UH game, the 'Bows will host their annual Alumnae Game. Hawai`i will be honoring the late Judy Mosley, UH's all-time leader in points and rebounds during both games on Sunday.