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HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team defeated CSU Bakersfield (1-3, 0-0 Western Athletic Conference), 74-60, opening day one of the 2015 Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Shootout on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center. UH improves to a 4-1, 0-0 Big West record.

Despite fairly even numbers across the stat line, UH pulled through once again with a solid defensive game. The 'Bows (23-52-.440 FG%) out-rebounded CSUB, 46-31, scoring 21 second-chance points. They additionally tallied 11 steals, 10 assists and four blocks.

After the Roadrunners recovered from a 16-point deficit to open the final period, the 'Bows were able to shake them off of their tail at the free throw line. UH drew five of CSUB's key players into foul trouble, with two fouling out of the game and ultimately converted 11-points at the line in the fourth quarter.

UH was led by senior Ashleigh Karaitiana (19-pts, six rebounds) and sophomore Megan Huff, who recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds, also adding three steals. Briana Harris had her second-straight game with double-digit points with 12, and also contributed five rebounds and three steals.
Erika Williams led the Roadrunners with a game-high 20 points and six rebounds.

The Rainbow Wahine recovered from an initial five-point deficit to take the lead 25-20 at the end of the first quarter after Karaitiana scored two-straight field goals to ignite an explosive 14-4 run. After Sarah Toeaina hit a trey to open the second quarter, UH continued its' run for a 10-point advantage before both teams suffered a three-minute scoring drought as the clock wound down. With one-minute remaining, the Roadrunners sunk in back-to-back baskets, but were silenced at the buzzer by a second-chance jumper by Karaitiana. The 'Bows led 32-24 at halftime.

UH jumped out to a solid 16-point advantage over CSUB in the third period. However, the Roadrunners surged back with 12 unanswered points to cut their deficit down to just four points, 50-46 after CSUB's Williams hit a trey just two minutes into the fourth.

The 'Bows immediately answered back with an aggressive defense and smart offense, pressuring the Roadrunners into foul trouble. After converting nearly every free throw opportunity to follow, UH was able to stretch out to a 74-60 lead for the win.

UH will face No. 16/18 Arizona State on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. PT. The Sun Devils fell to No., 2 South Carolina earlier today, 60-58 in the tournament opener.