HONOLULU, O'ahu—The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team clinched its first win of the 2022-23 season with a 63-47 victory over Grambling State in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Friday afternoon inside SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (1-4) ended their four-game skid with the program's second-ever win over GSU, the first since 2007. The Tigers (1-5) have dropped back-to-back games after knocking off New Orleans for their lone victory of the year on November 18th, and they will now take on No. 2 Stanford on Saturday.
 
The 'Bows controlled the pace of the first half ending the first quarter with a slight lead at 13-11. Through the first six minutes of the second frame, UH dominated with a 14-2 run after a spark from the bench for a 29-13 advantage at one point. As the Tigers settled, the score drew closer to a 32-22 lead at the half by the green and white.
 
In the first 20 minutes, UH accumulated 21 bench points compared to the Tigers' two and won the rebounding battle at 18-11.
 
The second half stayed consistent, with UH pacing the way; the Tigers put together a flurry of buckets in the fourth quarter to pull within single digits at 45-38. UH answered the rally with a three and never looked back for the eventual final.
 
Sophomore forward Jacque David led the way for UH with a career-high 17 points off the bench and was perfect with her shooting stroke. David went 7-of-7 from the field, 2-of-2 beyond the arch, and drained her only free-throw attempt. Sophomore guard Daejah Phillips added 15 points, three rebounds, and a career-high seven assists. Phillips has scored 10 or more points in four of the first five games this season and tallied five or more assists in two of those four games. Graduate center Kallin Spiller turned in the first double-double of the year for the 'Bows with 10 points and 10 rebounds. It also marked her fourth consecutive game of 10 or more boards.
 
As a team, UH dominated in various ways. Keeping the same advantage throughout, with the home team out-scoring GSU from the bench 32-7 and outrebounding them 34-26. Points in the paint also favored the 'Bows at 40 to 18.
 
UH will be in action tomorrow as a part of the three-day tournament with Florida Gulf Coast at 2:30 p.m. HT. The 'Bows and Eagles faced off on the first day of the Bank of Hawai'i Classic on November 18th, with FGCU coming away with the 65-45 victory.