HENDERSON, Nev.  – The  top-seeded University of Hawai'i women's basketball team got off to a fast start and never looked back in a 69-55 semifinal win over No. 4 UC Riverside in the 2022 Hercules Tire Big West Tournament Friday afternoon at The Dollar Loan Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (19-9)  now advance to the tournament finals where they will face UC Irvine on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. PT/3:00 p.m HT. It's the fourth time in the last 10 years since re-joining the Big West that UH has advanced to the finals and the first time since 2019.
 
The 'Bows led from wire-to-wire, and used a season-high 27-point second-quarter output to lead by as many as 26 points and take a 43-21 lead at the half. UH extended its win streak to seven games while knocking out a Highlander squad (14-11) that came into Friday's action having won their last eight games.
 
Two days after being held to just four points in UH's quarterfinal win over CSU Bakersfield, Big West Player of the Year Amy Atwell exploded for 22 points – including 17 in the decisive first half.  Atwell buried six three-pointers on the day to give her 69 on the year as she surpassed Julissa Tago (66) for a new school single-season record.
 
Atwell set the the tone for the Rainbow Wahine who were sharp on both ends of the court. UH shot 50 percent in the first half, fueled by a sizzling 9-of-12 from beyond the arc and held the Highlanders to just 24 percent shooting in the first half. 
 
UCR made a push in the third quarter, cutting the deficit in half and coming within 50-39 entering the final period. But it was too little too late for the Highlanders who fell to UH for the second time this year by double-digits.
 
The 'Bows will seek it third-ever Big West Tournament title – and first in six years – when it takes on UC Irvine on Saturday.