LA JOLLA, Calif.— Thursday night was a tale of two halves as the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team rallied behind a second-half comeback to upend UC San Diego at Liontree Arena, 61-58.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (10-11, 8-5) trailed by 16 late in the second quarter, but a steal by sophomore guard Lily Wahinekapu in the closing seconds for a breakaway layup brought the game to a 35-21 disadvantage, but the momentum started to shift.
 
UH outscored UCSD 20-8 in the third quarter, hitting four threes in the process, including two from junior guard Ashley Thoms to bring the game within two, 43-41, rolling into the fourth frame. The 'Bows kept their offensive push going as they dropped 20 points in consecutive quarters, taking a 48-47 lead with 8:15 to play in regulation following a three by sophomore guard Kelsie Imai. UCSD pulled the game back to a tie at 55-55, but another fast-break layup by Wahinekapu recaptured the lead with 3:43 remaining in the game, a lead UH would not relinquish.
 
The Tritons (11-12, 8-5) have now lost two of their last three games, and it's their first loss to UH over the span of four games all-time.
 
Wahinekapu recorded her eighth consecutive game of 10 points or more, finishing with 12 points and three rebounds. Graduate center Kallin Spiller tied Wahinekapu for the team-high of 12 points while finishing with nine rebounds and a career-high five assists.
 
UH leaned on the production from its bench with 20 points, including both Thoms and Imai contributing nine points apiece, including a career-high three made three-pointers by Thoms. For the second consecutive game and the seventh time this season, UH combined for 15 or more assists, dishing out 18 against the Tritons.
 
UH will stay on the road and pay a visit to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, with tipoff set for 4 p.m. HT. The 'Bows will be looking for a season sweep as they knocked off the Titans 66-53 on January 7^th in Honolulu.