HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team opened its final homestand of the regular season with a rousing 63-57 overtime win over UC Davis Thursday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. 
 
Lily Wahinekapu scored a game-high 18 points to help UH rally from an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The junior guard was clutch down the stretch, scoring 12 of those points in the fourth quarter and overtime. With the win the Rainbow Wahine (17-9, 14-3) avenged a loss at Davis earlier this season and stayed atop the Big West standings. 

Jacque David added a season-high 10 points, while Daejah Phillips posted 10 points and seven rebounds, including a three-pointer in overtime that helped seal the victory and UH won its 10th straight home game and improved to 9-0 in Manoa in Big West play.

With the win in its first overtime game of the season, UH remained a game ahead of UC Irvine for first place in the conference race and three ahead of third-place UC Riverside and Cal Poly with three games left in the regular-season

Tova Sabel led the Aggies (15-13, 11-7) with 17 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.

UC Davis scored on the game's opening possession and took an 8-0 lead with a 4-for-7 start while UH missed its first four shots. Wahinekapu broke through for the 'Bows with a putback and Kelsie Imai scored twice on drives into the paint to spark the UH offense.

Jade Peacock hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the first quarter and David connected on another early in the second to tie the game at 14-14. UC Davis reclaimed the lead and went up 25-18 when Megan Norris hit the Aggies' lone 3-pointer of the half. UH then held UC Davis without a field goal over the final 4:55 of the half and closed on an 11-1 run triggered by David's second 3-pointer. Phillips, the reigning Big West Player of the Week, scored on a drive and Wahinekapu added another layup and two free throws to send UH into halftime with a 29-26 lead.

UC Davis was 1-for-13 from three-point range in the first half but found the range early in the third quarter with Sydney Burns connecting twice in a 10-3 run that pushed the Aggies ahead 39-36 midway through the third quarter. UH went without a field goal over the final 5:29 of the period, but five free throws were enough to keep the 'Bows within striking distance and trailed 43-41 going into the fourth quarter.

UC Davis scored the first six points of the final period including Norris' third three-pointer to match their biggest lead of the game at eight points with less than seven minutes left. Olivia Davies broke an extended UH drought with a three-pointer from the top. After a Sabel 3-pointer, Wahinekapu scored the game's next seven points with a three of her own and two drives to the bucket.

UC Davis led 54-51 with under a minute left in regulation when MeiLani McBee, who missed her first four shots behind the arc, drained a deep three off an inbounds play to tie it up. David missed on a layup and UC Davis had the final possession of regulation. The 'Bows forced Evanne Turner, UCD's leading scorer entering the game, into a tough shot that stayed out the rim to send the game into overtime.

McBee gave UH the lead with a free throw and Wahinekapu's step-back 3 gave UH a 58-54 cushion. UC Davis closed to 60-57 with 40 seconds left and UH ran the clock down and Phillips hoisted a 3-pointer to beat the shot clock with 10 seconds remaining and finally put the game out of reach.

UH held UC Davis scoreless over the final 2:26 of regulation and the first 3:55 of overtime and limited the Aggies to one field goal in the extra period.

The Rainbow Wahine close the home schedule on Saturday against UC Riverside (16-11, 11-6). UH guards Olivia Davies and Ashley Thoms will be honored in the traditional Senior Night ceremony following the home finale.