HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team saw a tight battle tilt toward Air Force in a 54-51 loss to cap the opening day of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Friday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (1-4) led at the end of the first three quarters and took a 39-36 edge into the fourth quarter. But Air Force (4-1) opened the final period with a 7-0 run and held UH to two field goals in the quarter to hold on for the win.
 
UH sophomore forward Imani Perez led the Rainbow Wahine with 15 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field and guard Daejah Phillips finished with 10 points, going 6-for-7 from the free-throw line.
 
Guard Kelsie Imai added a season-high nine points while converting on all four of her field-goal attempts, including her lone 3-pointer. Guard Lily Wahinekapu had eight points and a team-high seven rebounds.
 
UH shot 52.7% from the field over the first three quarters, but went 2-for-13 over the final 10 minutes
 
UH jumped out to an 8-2 lead when guard Olivia Davies hit a 3-pointer on her first shot of the game and Perez twice scored inside to help the 'Bows take a 12-9 lead after the first quarter.
 
Air Force took its first lead of the afternoon early in the second quarter and there would be eight lead changes in the period. The last came when Imai drained a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left the half to push UH ahead 22-20. On Air Force's last possession of the half, Phillips stuffed a Falcons shot and the Wahine worked the ball to Imai, who scored on a drive with 3 seconds left to give UH a 24-22 lead at halftime.
 
Air Force opened the third quarter with a six-point run, before Perez hit a 3-pointer from the top and Ashley Thoms followed with another 3. Perez's layup gave UH its largest lead of the game at 37-30 with 3:22 left in the third quarter. Imai again scored on a drive to beat the buzzer to send UH into the fourth with a 39-36 lead.
 
Air Force's Keelie O'Hollaren hit a 3-pointer to tie the game early in the fourth quarter and Milahnie Perry hit two free throws and scored on a layup to give the Falcons the lead. Perry's 3-pointer stretched the margin to 46-41 with 5:12 left.
 
UH answered with a six-point surge and reclaimed the lead on two Phillips free throws. But Perry scored inside and Dasha Macmillan's jumper in the paint gave Air Force a three-point cushion. UH twice closed to within a point and trailed by three with 9.8 seconds left. After a timeout, Phillips' contested 3-pointer came up short as the buzzer sounded.
 
Perry and Madison Smith led Air Force with 16 points each and Dasha Macmillan added 10.
 
In the first game of the day, Washington opened the three-day tournament with a 57-37win over Idaho State 57-37.
 
The Rainbow Wahine Showdown continues Saturday with UH taking on Idaho State at 2:30 p.m.