HONOLULU—For the first time since 2016, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team started the Big West Conference schedule with a win by knocking off Cal State Fullerton 54-52 inside SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday night.
The Rainbow Wahine (4-6, 1-0) lost five straight conference openers heading into the night, and the 2016 campaign was the last time UH won the conference tournament championship to make the NCAA tournament. The Titans (5-6, 0-1) dropped their third consecutive contest and have not won on the road at Hawai'i since 1995, extending their losing streak to 11 in a row.
For the first time this season, and the fourth time in her career, graduate forward
Amy Atwell recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. But no bucket was more prominent than her last, as graduate center
Kallin Spiller made a perfect pass in the paint to find Atwell for the score, putting UH up 54-52 with seconds on the clock. Lockdown defense prevailed for the 'Bows as the Titans put up a contested shot in the final seconds, falling short.
The Titans led throughout the game by just over 31 minutes, as UH started slow and found themselves in a 17-7 deficit at the end of the first quarter. But the offense found a rhythm, ending the second quarter with an 11-3 run, going into the locker room down 25-20.
UH kept chipping away even though CSF would add to their lead throughout the second half. The 'Bows used a 16-4 run from 2:57 on the clock in the third quarter to the midway point of fourth to capture the lead at 41-39, capped off by the first career made three-pointer from transfer sophomore guard
Ashley Thoms.
In the final four minutes of action, the two squads traded big shot after big shot, including another three-pointer by Thoms, giving her 11 points in her home debut. Everything boiled down to the final moments when UH prevailed on the Atwell bucket.
The 'Bows will now go to California for their first official conference road trip with stops at UC San Diego and UC Irvine, beginning on Thursday.
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