IRVINE, Calif.—Sophomore forward Meilani McBee scored a career-high 23 points in 43 minutes of action as the University of Hawai'i women's basketball fell short to UC Irvine in overtime for the second time this season, 68-66 at the Bren Events Center Saturday afternoon.
 
Trailing by as much as nine in the third quarter at 41-32, the Rainbow Wahine (12-13, 11-7) narrowed the gap through the final 15 minutes of action to make the contest a candidate for game of the year in the Big West.
 
As the game entered the fourth quarter with UH trailing 47-42, McBee caught fire, hitting three, three-pointers and accounting for 13 points in the frame to force overtime at 58-58.
 
The Anteaters (22-5, 14-2) quickly snatched a four-point lead in the extra period at 64-60, but it quickly evaporated as UH scored six straight for a 66-64 advantage and 2:49 on the clock.  UCI tied the game up at 66-66, and won the game in the final second as Nevaeh Parkinson broke loose on an inbound play underneath the goal to score the final bucket, securing the season sweep of the 'Bows.
 
UH remains at the No. 4 position of the conference standings, emphasizing the season's final two games even more, with CSUN and UC Santa Barbra traveling to Honolulu, O'ahu later this week.
 
Freshman center Imani Perez turned in a solid day with a career-high 13 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing her first career double-double. Sophomore guard Daejah Phillips picked up 11 points off the bench, adding five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Lily Wahinekapu saw her 12-game streak of double-digit scoring games come to an end, finishing with nine points.