RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team erased one double-digit deficit on Saturday but a second comeback attempt fell short in a 66-58 loss to UC Riverside at SRC Arena in Riverside, Calif.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (7-7, 4-1 Big West) fell behind by 13 in the second quarter against the hot-shooting Highlanders but took the lead in the third thanks to 8-for-11 shooting from the field. UC Riverside (8-8, 3-3) opened the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run and this time held on to hand UH its first conference loss of the season.
 
UC Riverside guard Jordan Webster hit six of the Highlanders' 12 3-pointers and tied her career high with 28 points to help UCR snap UH's four-game winning streak overall and eight-game winning streak in the series. The win was UCR's first against UH since Jan. 30, 2019.
 
UH guards Lily Wahinekapu and Olivia Davies led the Rainbow Wahine with 10 points each. Center Brooklyn Rewers added nine points, seven coming early in the third quarter to spark UH's rally.
 
Guard Kelsie Imai hit two 3-pointers, her second giving UH a 41-40 lead with 3:25 left in the third quarter, and finished with eight points. Forward Imani Perez also posted eight points and the 'Bows return home with a split of the road trip.
 
The Rainbow Wahine missed their first 12 attempts from 3-point range and finished the game 4 for 21. Led by Webster's career-best performance from beyond the arc, UC Riverside hit a season-high 12-pointers on 25 attempts.
 
UCR forward Matehya Bryant posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and had four of the Highlanders' 12 steals. Makayla Jackson hit two pivotal jumpers in the fourth quarter and finished with 11 points and two steals. As a team, UCR forced 21 UH turnovers and converted 19 points off of takeaways.
 
UCR hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter and jumped ahead with a 14-2 run capped by Webster's layup off a steal. The Highlanders opened up their widest lead of the game when Webster drained a 3-pointer from the right side to push UCR ahead 27-14 at the 4:26 mark of the second quarter.
 
Wahinekapu shifted the momentum late in the second quarter by converting a layup while drawing a foul and added another free throw with 3 seconds left to send UH into halftime trailing 31-25.
 
Rewers' hot start in the third quarter included a 3-pointer than banked into the net and her jumper wth the 7:32 mark tied the game at 34-34. UH moved ahead on Imai's 3-pointer and Daejah Phillips's drive gave UH a 43-40 lead before Webster tied it again from long range and the Highlanders took a 48-47 lead into the final period.
 
Webster opened the quarter with another 3-pointer while UH started 1 for 9 from the field and UCR led by at least six over the final seven minutes.
 
The Rainbow Wahine return home to face Long Beach State on Jan. 18 and UC San Diego on Jan. 20 at SimpliFI Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.