SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team battled back from a slow start but couldn't match Clemson's long-distance barrage in a 72-58 loss in the San Diego Classic on Friday at Viejas Arena.
The Rainbow Wahine (6-4) cut a 20-point second-quarter deficit to two early in the third quarter, but the Tigers (8-4) drained six of their 13 3-pointers in the second half to fend off UH's comeback bid.
Brooklyn Rewers led UH with a season-high 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting from the field.
Jade Peacock matched her career high with three 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
Imani Perez helped spur UH's rally in the second quarter and also posted nine points. Guard Mia 'Uhlia had five points and a season-high six assists.
Summah Evans led Clemson with 16 points and Hannah Kohn scored all 15 of her points from beyond the 3-point arc with a 5-for-7 shooting performance from long range. In all, seven Clemson players connected on 3-pointers and the Tigers finished 13 for 19 as team while shooting 58.7% from the field overall.
Clemson set the tone by hitting seven of its first 10 shots, including five 3-pointers, to race out to a 20-5 lead. UH started 0 for 7 from the field until Rewers scored inside at the 3:42 mark and Clemson took a 24-9 lead into the second quarter.
UH trailed 31-11 three minutes into in the second quarter before flipping the momentum with a 15-2 run to get back to contention. Rewers, Peacock and Perez hit 3-pointers in the run and Perez finished a fast break with a layup to cut the deficit to 33-26. A Clemson turnover gave UH possession with 1.5 seconds left in the half and
MeiLani McBee drained a 3-pointer from the wing at the buzzer to send the 'Bows into the break down 35-29.
UH continued to battle back in the third and closed to within two at 37-35 on a layup by McBee with 7:45 left in the period. But Clemson answered when Mia Moore hit a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock and Addie Porter added another to push the margin back to eight.
Clemson opened the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to reclaim control and shot 8 for 11 from the field in the final 10 minutes to maintain a double-digit lead through the end of the game.
The Rainbow Wahine face tournament host San Diego State (10-2) on Saturday to close the nonconference schedule. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Pacific Time (1:30 p.m. Hawai'i Time).
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