RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Opening this week's Big West road swing, Hawai'i women's basketball (8-10, 1-4 Big West) did not retain the momentum from last Saturday's win over Long Beach State, as the Rainbow Wahine were downed on Thursday night by UC Riverside (6-13, 3-2 Big West) at SRC Arena, 79-57.
 
Although the Rainbow Wahine came out fast and jumped to a 6-0 lead early in the first quarter, UC Riverside was sparked by five straight points by star guard Michelle Curry, launching into a 14-2 run from which UH never recovered. However, it wasn't Curry who gave the Rainbow Wahine the biggest fits, it was senior guard Lauren Holt who pushed the Highlanders out front and kept them there.
 
Although UCR doesn't typically show three-point shooting prowess, the Highlanders hit 6-of-14 from long range, led by Holt, who made 4-of-7 and shot 62.5 percent on her 16 field goal attempts Thursday – leading all scorers with 24 points.
 
The Rainbow Wahine drew the deficit to as few as four in the final moments of the first half, but the Highlanders scored eight unanswered into the break. UCR quickly grew its lead in the opening three minutes of the second half and maintained pace to the final buzzer.
 
Senior guard Sarah Toeaina proved to be a force for the Rainbow Wahine, shooting 50 percent from the floor to score 21 points for her fifth 20-point performance of the season, also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Putting down a pair of threes, Lahni Salanoa shot 57 percent and finished with 11.
 
The Rainbow Wahine continue this week's southern California stretch on Saturday with a rematch at UC Irvine. The Anteaters defeated UH 74-67 last week at the Stan Sheriff Center and succumbed to a comeback loss at Cal Poly on Thursday, 79-76. Saturday tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. HT at UCI's Bren Events Center.