Game Notes

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team (11-9, 5-3 Big West) conclude their 11-day roadtrip with a clash against the top BWC team, Cal Poly (13-8, 7-1 Big West). The Rainbow Wahine bounced back after dropping their first two games on the current trip with a 63-60 win over UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night.
 
The 'Bows remain in a tie for third place in the Big West at 5-3 with UC Davis. Both UH and UCD are a half-game behind Cal State Northridge who is at 6-3, while Cal Poly sits atop the rankings at 7-1.
 
Hawai'i came back late in the second half to defeat the Gauchos at the Thunderdome to get back on the winning track. The 'Bows outrebounded their opponents for the 14th time this season and UH shot a season-high .917 from the free throw line to seal the win. Shawna-Lei Kuehu returned to the starting line-up to lead the team with 15 points—nine of which came from the free throw line. She stuffed the stat line with six rebounds, three assists, a blocked shot and a steal. Kamilah Jackson, who was hand-cuffed by foul trouble for much of the game, added 14 points and five rebounds and made key buckets late to propel UH to the win. Destiny King tallied double-digit points for the third time in four games, chipping in with 10.
 
Overall, Jackson continues to lead UH averaging 15.7 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. Ashleigh Karaitiana is second on the team scoring 11.3 per game and leads the team with 27 3-pointers under her belt. Kuehu is also averaging double-figures in points with 10.2 a game. She leads the Rainbow Wahine with 20 blocks. King continues to lead the squad with 51 assists and is second on the team with 6.1 boards per game while Haydel has a team-high 23 steals.
 
Cal Poly is on a five-game winning streak and is a perfect 8-0 at home this season. The Mustangs were idle on Thursday and will be ready for the Rainbow Wahine as they make their way to San Luis Obispo.  Hawai'i is looking to reverse their fortune from their first matchup of the conference season in Honolulu. Haydel, Jackson and Karaitiana all scored over 10 points apiece (18, 17, and 15 respectively), but it was not enough, as the Mustangs overcame a 17-point deficit to tie the game at the end of regulation. Cal Poly then pulled away in overtime for a 78-74 win.
 
Game 21 Tip-off Notes
Who: Hawai'i (11-9, 5-3 BWC) vs. Cal Poly (13-8, 7-1 BWC)
When: Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Mott Gymnasium (3,032) – San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Streaming Video: www.BigWest.tv
Streaming Audio: www.gopoly.com
Live Stats: www.gopoly.com
Head Coaches: Hawai'i head coach Laura Beeman is in her second season at UH with a 28-23 record. Cal Poly's Faith Mimnaugh is in her 17th season with a 229-253 record with the Mustangs. Overall in 19 seasons, she is 236-315.
Series Information: The Mustangs hold a 5-1 advantage over the Rainbow Wahine. Cal Poly has won the last two games, the last in Honolulu on Jan. 8, 2014.