HONOLULU — Wearing retro uniforms, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team rolled past CSUN 67-38 on Saturday night at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center to improve to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2001-02 season.
 
After a bit of a ragged start, the Rainbow Wahine hit 10 3-pointers and dominated the middle quarters with a 29-2 surge bridging halftime to even their overall record at 6-6 and ended the evening as the lone undefeated team in the Big West race.
 
The Rainbow Wahine unveiled the retro uniforms inspired by the 1980s and '90s and last won their first three conference games as a member of the Western Athletic Conference in 2001-02. The 3-0 mark is also the program's best start in as a Big West member since 1995-96.
 
The Rainbow Wahine held the Matadors to their season-low scoring total and their 38 points were the fewest allowed by UH since a 47-35 win at UC Santa Barbara on Jan. 26, 2019.
 
UH guard Daejah Phillips accounted for eight points in a 12-0 UH run to close the second quarter and led a balanced attack with 12 points while hitting a season-high three 3-pointers. Guard Kelsie Imai scored nine of her season-high 11 points in the fourth quarter and guard Lily Wahinekapu finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Center Brooklyn Rewers sparked the 'Bows early on, scoring UH's first six points on two free throws, a jumper from the top of the key and a hook in the paint. She also hit UH's first 3-pointer of the game and finished with nine points and six rebounds.
 
Guard MeiLani McBee drained three 3-pointers in a 17-0 run in the third quarter and the 'Bows allowed just two CSUN points in the period.
 
UH also set a season best with 43 rebounds and the 'Bows depth was displayed with a season-high 33 points off the bench.
 
The last two of those points were delivered by junior guard Hallie Birdsong, a walk-on who drew one of the loudest ovations of the night when she hit a pull-up jumper for the first bucket of her college career.

After Rewers sparked the UH offense early, Wahinekapu's driving layup gave UH a 10-6 lead. CSUN tied the game at 20-20 about midway through the second quarter before UH's defense triggered a 12-0 run to end the period.
 
UH forward Imani Perez swatted away a shot and Imai gathered the loose ball, sprinted upcourt and drove to the bucket for the go-ahead layup. Another block by Perez led to Phillips' first 3-pointer and the second sent UH into halftime with a 32-20 lead.
 
CSUN scored the first bucket of the third quarter then went scoreless over the next 8:44 while UH hit five 3-pointers to break away.
 
Birdsong's mid-range jumper punctuated the night and drew a wild celebration from teammates appreciative of her efforts in the practice gym throughout her UH career while making her sixth game-night appearance.
 
The Rainbow Wahine enter their next road trip alone atop the the Big West and face UC Irvine (9-5, 3-1) on Jan. 11 and UC Riverside (6-8, 1-3) on Jan. 13.