SANTA BARBARA, Calif.— The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team suffered its most heartbreaking loss of the season as UC Santa Barbara used a second-half comeback to pull away 72-69 Thursday evening at the Thunderdome.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (7-11, 5-4) led by as much as 20 in the third quarter, but the Gauchos (14-5, 7-2) rallied behind a 53% shooting performance in the final two frames, completing their second consecutive second-half comeback in two games.
 
UH clicked on all cylinders in the first half, building their lead to 17 at one point in the second quarter. As four players dropped seven points apiece in the first two frames, UH shot 50% from the field and 38% from three-point range to put UCSB in a 40-28 hole at the halfway point.
 
The 'Bows' lead ballooned to 51-31 lead in the third quarter but was met with a 22-0 run spanning from the third through the fourth quarter. UH tried to rally after trailing by six at 63-57 with under six minutes to go, pulling back to a tie at 67-67 after back-to-back threes by sophomore forward Meilani McBee. UCSB answered with five straight points to close out the 'Bows.
 
Sophomore guard Lily Wahinekapu tallied 13 points for her fourth consecutive game of double-digit points while adding two assists and two rebounds. Sophomore forward Jacque David registered 10 points, tied her career-high of seven rebounds, and dished out five assists.
 
UH follows up Thursday's action with a Saturday matinee by visiting CSU Bakersfield. Tipoff is slated for noon HT.