San Diego, Calif.— The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team dropped its final game of a southern California road trip, 58-50 to San Diego on Sunday afternoon at the Jenny Craig Pavillion.
The Rainbow Wahine (0-3) came up short for the third game in a row, marking the first time UH has begun a season winless after the first three games since 2008-09. The Toreros (1-1) bounced back from a 69-59 loss on the road at Southern Utah earlier in the week, and will now head to Minnesota for their next game.
"We didn't show up physically or mentally," said head coach
Laura Beeman. "A lot of things didn't go our way today, not to mention we didn't have our full roster. When we are at a disadvantage regarding having players injured, then that puts more on those who are playing and getting those minutes. We have to show up, and it didn't happen today."
UH never trailed by more than eight points in the contest, exchanging the lead eight times, and bringing the game to a tie on three occasions.
Senior guard
Tia Kanoa ignited the offense late in the game, as UH trailed 52-44 with just over four minutes to play. Kanoa hit back-to-back three-point jumpers, bringing the 'Bows within two points with over two minutes in regulation. Shortly after, junior guard
Julissa Tago drove the lane, drawing contact on her layup to send her to the line to the tie game. She missed both free throws and the Toreros capitalized by holding UH scoreless in the final two minutes.
Senior guard
Leah Salanoa led the team with 11-points with all nine UH players registering in the scoring column. Kanoa finished with eight points and added a season-high eight assists. Freshman forward
Myrrah Joseph played a season-high 24 minutes of action, accounting for eight points and four rebounds off the bench.
As a team, UH outshot USD, going 20-for-50 from the floor for 40 percent, while the host hit 17-of-45 for 38 percent. USD dominated the rebounding totals 38-24, including 13 offensive boards, but UH limited them to only six, second-chance points.
"They were a lot bigger than us in the post," said Beeman. "But that isn't an excuse. If we would have done what we planned and what we needed to do, then the rebounds wouldn't have been lopsided. We have to continue to working on our rebounding, limiting our turnovers, and hitting our free throws."
UH will now head back home and host seven straight games at the Stan Sheriff Center beginning on Friday, Nov. 16 with the Bank of Hawai'i Classic. The 'Bows will take on Portland with their first game of the Classic, as a part of a tripleheader on the 16th. Seattle will take on Arizona to begin the day at noon H.T., followed UH and Portland at 2:30 p.m. H.T., and the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team will put an end today as they host UC Davis in the regular season finale at 7:00 p.m. HT.
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