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WBB Lefotu at Portland
65
Hawaii Hawaii 0-1,0-0 Big West
76
Winner Portland UP 1-0,0-0 WCC
Hawaii Hawaii
0-1,0-0 Big West
65
Final
76
Portland UP
1-0,0-0 WCC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Hawaii Hawaii 10 20 13 22 65
Portland UP 18 22 23 13 76

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Portland Fends Off Hawai‘i Rally In Season Opener

PORTLAND, Ore. –- The University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine basketball team dropped its season opener on the road with a 76-65 loss to Portland Thursday night at the Chiles Center.

The 'Bows faced a formidable team in Portland which won 21 games and advanced to last year's NCAA Tournament. UH was hit by the turnover bug early and fell victim to some hot three-point shooting from the Pilots in dropping its fourth straight season-opener. 

Portland built its lead to as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter but there was no quit in the 'Bows who cut the deficit to just eight in the final minute with pressure defense and a clinic in free throw shooting. The Rainbow Wahine shattered the school record by finishing a perfect 25-of-25 from the free throw line. The previous mark was 16 makes without a miss versus UTEP in March 2001. 

Daejah Phillips led UH with 19 points while draining all 11 of her free throws. Freshman center Ritorya Tamilo added 10 points, while transfer Mia 'Uhila added eight points off the bench, all from the line.

Maisie Burnham led three Pilots in double-figures with 18 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from the arc. As a team, Portland went 10-of-21 from three-point land while forcing 24 UH turnovers.  

The 'Bow started strong, taking a 5-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. But the Pilots responded by scoring 14 of the next 16 points– including nine unanswered – to establish a lead they would maintain for the remainder of the game. UH turned the ball over eight times in the first 10 minutes and the Pilots capitalized, scoring 10 points of their 18 points first-quarter points off those turnovers. Offensively, Portland went 5-of-9 on three point attempts to take an 18-10 lead after the opening frame.  

UH cut the deficit to 18-12 on their first possession of the second quarter, but the Pilots eventually built an 11-point lead midway through the quarter before taking a 40-30 lead at the break. Phillips poured in 13 first-half points to keep the 'Bows in the game. 

The Pilots really created distance at the end of the third quarter. That's when they reeled off 13 straight points as part of a 15-2 run in the final 3:43 of the quarter to take a commanding 63-43 lead heading into the fourth. 

That lead expanded to as many as 23 points at 68-45 with 6:43 left. But there was no quit in the 'Bows who mounted a comeback with pressure defense and flawless free throw shooting.  'Uhila's two free throws capped a 20-5 run that put the 'Bows within eight, 73-65, with just over a minute to go. But it was too little too late for the 'Bows who could get no closer in the final minute.

The Rainbow Wahine will continue their season-opening two-game road swing with a game at Portland State on Saturday, Nov. 9. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. HT

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