HONOLULU –- The University of Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine basketball team picked up a thrilling 50-47 win over Fresno State in the opener of the American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Friday afternoon at SimpliFI Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. UH (4-1) overcame a 13-point, second-half deficit to win their fourth straight game and extend their home win streak to 14 games dating back to last year. 

Ritorya Tamilo and Lily Wahinekapu led the comeback with Tamilo scoring 10 of her game-high 16 points in the second half. Wahinekapu helped turn the momentum in the fourth quarter, making back-to-back layups starting with a defensive rebound followed by a coast-to-coast bucket then a steal off the Bulldogs' inbound play that led to another layup that pushed UH's lead to 46-40. Wahinekapu came through with 12 points–eight coming in the second half alone–with four rebounds, four steals and a blocked shot. She sunk the final two free throws to seal the game with 10 seconds left in the game. 

Tamilo went 7-11 from the floor with seven rebounds with an assist and a steal. She and Brooklyn Rewers led UH with three blocks apiece and helped the 'Bows amass a team season-high of 10 blocked shots. 

In the first meeting between the former conference rivals in 12 years, both teams got off to slow starts. The teams combined for seven turnovers and missed 15 of their first 16 shots in the first five minutes. UH ultimately took an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bulldogs went 3-of-22 to start the game, but made their move in the second quarter when they outs-scored UH, 21-11. Fresno State found their touch from the outside with a three-pointer on three consecutive possessions and took a 28-20 lead into the locker room. UH shot just 26 percent in the first half, including 2-of-14 from deep. 

Fresno State scored the first first five points to start the half to extend their lead to 33-20 Hawai'i's comeback was fueled by a 14-2 run midway through the third quarter which ended with the 'Bows scoring nine unanswered points that trimmed their deficit to one point at 40-39 following a Tamilo layup with 53-seconds left in the quarter.

Daejah Phillips' jumper with 8:29 left in the fourth gave UH a 40-39, lead, its first lead since early in the second quarter. UH then put the defensive clamps down. Fresno State went 1-of-12 down the stretch as UH built a six point lead late. But the Bulldogs made one last push. With 25 seconds left, a Danae Powell three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Mia Jacobs cut UH's lead to just one point at 48-47. But Wahinekapu drilled two clutch  free throws and FSU's last three-point attempt by Jacobs missed as the 'Bows held on for the victory.

UH shot just 3-of-22 from three-point land, but held Fresno State to 28 percent shooting for the game in snapping the Bulldogs' four-game win streak.

In the first game of the day, top-ranked UCLA dismantled UT Martin, 97-37. 

The Rainbow Wahine Showdown continues on Saturday with Fresno State taking on UCLA at 12:00 p.m., followed by UH versus UT Martin at 2:30 p.m.