MORAGA, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team (23-8, 14-2 Big West) travels to Moraga, Calif. to take on St. Mary's (20-10, 13-5 WCC) in the first round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) at the McKeon Pavilion on Friday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m. (PT). This is the third straight season that the Rainbow Wahine have earned a spot in the WNIT all under head coach Laura Beeman.
 
Overall, this is the 14th time in Hawai'i history that the 'Bows will play in the post-season. Hawai'i has played in the WNIT in 1983, '92, 2000, '01, '02, '03, '13, '14 and now '15. UH has advanced to the NCAA tournament five times in 1989, '90, '94, 96, and '98. 
 
The Rainbow Wahine finished the regular season on a 14-game win streak and extended it to 15 after defeating Cal State Fullerton in the Big West Tournament semifinals 73-64 last Friday. The streak was snapped at 15 in the Big West Tournament championship game 67-60 loss on Saturday to CSUN. UH's 15-game win streak was the longest under Beeman and the fourth longest win streak in program history. It was the longest win streak since former head coach Vince Goo led UH to 19 straight wins in 1997-98. Hawai'i hit the 20+-win mark overall for the 13th time in school history. It is the first time UH has had 20 wins since the 2001-02 season when the 'Bows went 23-8 overall. For the Rainbow Wahine, it is their first conference title since the 'Bows won the Western Athletic Conference's Pacific Division crown in 1997-98 under Goo. It also marks UH's third Big West title after Goo led the 'Bows to back-to-back first place finishes in 1992-93 and 1993-94.

It is the second time in three years that Hawai'i will be facing a West Coast Conference team. In 2013, Beeman's first season, the 'Bows fell at San Diego in the first round, 61-49. Last season, the Rainbow Wahine lost in the WNIT first round to Washington in Seattle, Wash., 67-50.
 
Overall, senior Shawna-Lei Kuehu continues to lead Hawai'i with career-highs of 349 points, 186 rebounds, 81 assists, 40 blocked shots and a team-high 42 steals. She is averaging a team-high 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds (tied with Destiny King). Kuehu, a first-team all-Big West selection, has been the glue that has held the team together as a cohesive unit. Fellow senior Ashleigh Karaitiana—who earned second-team all-Big West honors—is second on the team averaging 10.0 points per game with a team-high 43 made 3-pointers. She is also second on the team with 75 assists and 35 steals. Junior standout Destiny King is also having a career season, posting career-highs of 9.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game with 68 assists, five blocked shots and 34 steals.
 
St. Mary's finished fourth in the West Coast Conference with a 20-10 overall record and a 13-5 mark in league action. This is the sixth consecutive post-season appearance for the Gaels. SMC is led by all-WCC first-team player Lauren Nicholson who is averaging 17.0 points per game and leads the Gaels with 34 3-pointers. Shannon Mauldin is second on the team averaging 10.2 points per game. She leads SMC with 72 assists, 25 blocked shots, and 59 steals—but also leads SMC with 111 turnovers. Stella Beck –WCC Newcomer of the Year—led the conference with a.563 field-goal percentage.
 
WNIT First Round
Who: Hawai'i (23-8, 14-2 BWC) vs. St. Mary's (20-10, 13-5 WCC)
When: Friday, March 20, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.
Where: McKeon Pavilion (3,500) – Moraga, Calif.
Video & Live Stats: Free live video stream and live stats will be available at www.smcgaels.com
Radio: Live on ESPN 1420 AM with Dave Kawada on the call. Neighbor islands can listen live on KNUI on Maui, KHLO in Hilo, KKON in Kona and KTOH on Kaua'i.
Live audio stream: Catch the game on www.espn1420am.com.
Coaches: Hawai'i head coach Laura Beeman has led UH to the Big West regular season title this season and to the WNIT all three seasons that she's been at UH. She is 57-36 overall with a 37-13 Big West Conference record. Prior to UH, she led Mt. San Antonio for 16 years where she established the junior college power with a 390-110 record and won four California Community College State Championships (2004, '06, 07, '08) and 10 South Coast Conference Championships. Paul Thomas is in his ninth season at St. Mary's. He has a 168-115 record with the Gaels and a 405-273 overall coaching record.
Series Record: Hawai'i and St. Mary's are tied 3-3 with the last meeting coming on Dec. 14, 2003. UH won that game in Honolulu, 75-71.