HONOLULU – The No. 8 University of Hawai'i water polo team (11-10, 2-1 BWC) fell to the No. 3 UCLA Bruins (16-1, 3-0 MPSF), 12-4, on Friday evening at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex (DKAC).

UCLA gained the advantage early, going up 2-0 on consecutive goals. Rainbow Wahine redshirt senior Gabi Mantellato stopped the shutout with her first score, but was quickly countered by another Bruin goal. Hawai'i faced a two-score deficit at the end of the first period.

UCLA continued to hold the upper hand in the second quarter, notching another three goals while holding the 'Bows scoreless.

The Bruins opened the third period with back-to-back goals, ballooning their lead to seven. Rainbow Wahine sophomore Femke Aan responded for Hawai'i, but UCLA connected on two more goals to end the period. The Bruins held a 10-2 lead at the end of the third period.

Both squads notched two goals apiece in the fourth quarter. Rainbow Wahine redshirt junior Chloe Barr and senior Nikki-Marie Bell connected for consecutive goals, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Bruins. Hawai'i fell to UCLA with a final margin of 12-4.

The Rainbow Wahine return to action tomorrow afternoon for a match against No. 12(t) San Diego State at 1:15 p.m. at the DKAC.

Scoring by Quarters:
UCLA:                 3              3              4              2
Hawai'i:               1              0              1              2

UCLA Scoring: Maddie Musselman 3, Alexa Tielmann 2, Mackenzie Barr 1, Bronte Haligan 1, Kodi Hill 1, Nicole Reynolds 1, Lizette Rozeboom 1, Rachel Whitelegge 1, Alys Williams 1
UH Scoring: Femke Aan 1, Chloe Barr 1, Nikki-Marie Bell 1, Gabi Mantellato 1