HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team employed its signature defense and strung together a fourth-quarter surge in a 64-52 win over UC San Diego Saturday at SimpliFI Arena at Stan Sheriff Center to complete a sweep of a Big West homestand. UH's win coupled with a UC Santa Barbara loss earlier in the day propelled the Rainbow Wahine (9-7, 6-1) into sole possession of first place in the Big West standings. 

UH led from wire-to-wire though the win didn't come easy. The 'Bows limited the Tritons (7-11, 3-4) to just five first-quarter points and held UC San Diego without a field goal in the final six minutes of the game to stave off a last-gasp Triton rally in front of the largest home crowd of the season.

Lily Wahinekapu poured in 16 points, seven of them in a game-sealing 10-0 run late in the fourth quarter. Daejah Phillips added 15 points as UH defeated UC San Diego for the second straight time after dropping its first three meetings against the Tritons as Big West rivals. 
 
The Rainbow Wahine held UC San Diego to five points on 2-for-10 shooting and forced seven turnovers in the first quarter. Wahinekapu sparked the UH offense with two early drives and Phillips and freshman Jade Peacock hit 3-pointers to contribute to a 14-5 lead through the first 10 minutes. 

UH's ball movement led to six assists on nine field goals in the first half and five players had at least one. Phillips, who led UH with eight points in the first half, delivered a highlight in dropping off a pass to Jacque David under the basket. In all, eight UH players scored in the first half and UH took a 31-19 lead into the break. UH forced UCSD into more turnovers (9) than field goals made (8) in the first half.

UC San Diego went on a 9-0 run early in the third quarter to close to 33-28, but UH answered with an 8-0 surge with Phillips finding Imani Perez for a layup, drawing a foul for two free throws and finishing on a drive to extend the lead to 41-28. The Tritons made another push with a 9-2 run spurred by Damilola Sule (team-high 15 points) before UH guard Ashley Thoms hit a 3-pointer to send UH into the  fourth with a 47-38 lead.

After Olivia Davies hit a three to open the fourth quarter, UH led by 12 and looked to cruise to victory  But UH went cold and UCSD chipped away. The Tritons closed it to 53-50 on a pair of Sumayah Sugapong free throws with 4:30 left. But Wahinekapu and Phillips sparked a game-ending 11-2 run to put the game away.

Two nights after committing 23 turnovers in a win over Long Beach State, the 'Bows gave the ball away a season-low eight times on Saturday. 

The Rainbow Wahine head on the road for a showdown with UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 25 in Santa Barbara, Calif., and face Cal Poly on Jan. 27.