Las Vegas, Nev.— The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team notched its first victory in the Duel of the Desert, taking down host UNLV 66-61 in overtime on Wednesday afternoon at Cox Pavilion.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (4-7) have now won three consecutive games to remain perfect in December and have a spot in the Rebel Division Championship game on Friday. The Rebels (1-9) have lost six straight games dating back to Nov. 25 and are 1-2 this season against Big West opponents.
 
"The first half was exactly what we wanted where we got a lead and built up our confidence," said head coach Laura Beeman. "The second half was the opposite of that, and it was very ugly, UNLV made us play to their style, and we struggle. But this is a nice win for us as we showed we could bounce back and come out on top."
 
The tone was set early by the 'Bows as junior guard Courtney Middap accounted for all of her 11 points in the first two frames, hitting a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor, in only nine minutes of action off the bench. The momentum set by Middap led UH to its largest lead at the half of 18 at 39-21.
 
The second half did not go as well as UH struggled offensively in the third and fourth quarter scoring a combined 16 points over the last 20 minutes.
 
UNLV took its first lead of the game with over five minutes left in regulation at 50-49. Neither team led by more than two points in the final minutes of action. After making one of two free throws with 13 seconds left on the clock, UNLV led 55-53, UH called a timeout advancing the ball to their side of the floor. Coming out of the timeout, senior guard Tia Kanoa spun around a pick and attacked the basket with an open lane on the right side of the paint for the tying layup at 55-55 sending the game into overtime.
 
"Alex (Delanian) drew up a great play for Tia (Kanoa) coming out the timeout," said Beeman. "And there isn't anyone else I would rather take that shot than Tia. It was huge for her as she stepped up and did what she needed to do as a senior in a crucial moment."
 
After two free throws by UNLV in the opening minute of overtime, UH took back control. The 'Bows outscored the host 11-4, hitting 8-for-8 from the charity stripe for the team's first win in overtime this season.
 
Junior forward Makenna Woodfolk stepped up in a big way hitting the 4-of-4 from the free throw line in overtime, finishing with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds. Woodfolk has now scored in double-digits in six straight games.
 
Kanoa turned in a solid performance tying Woodfolk with a team-high nine boards while adding seven points and six assists.
 
As a team, turnovers continued to plague the 'Bows as they accounted for 20 miscues, resulting in 21 points off turnovers for the Rebels. The difference in the game came from the three-point territory and the free throw line. UH went 19-of-24 from the line at 79 percent, and hit seven three-pointers. In comparison, UNLV went 8-of-12 from the line and only hit three, three-point buckets.
 
UH will now wait and see who its opponent will be on Friday for the Rebel Division Championship game, whether it will be Florida or Utah at 12:30 p.m. HT. The Utes and the Gators are slated to tip off on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. HT.