HONOLULU — The second-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team completed a perfect run through the Big West regular-season schedule and provided a rousing sendoff for four seniors and head coach Maureen Cole with a 12-3 victory over No. 16 UC Santa Barbara on Saturday at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
 
The Rainbow Wahine raised their record to 19-3 overall and 7-0 in Big West play to secure the regular-season conference title outright. UH finished the conference regular season schedule undefeated for the third time since joining the Big West in 2013.
 
Bia Mantellato Dias and Roni Perlman led the 'Bows in scoring with two goals each. Seniors Lot Stertefeld, Alba Bonamusa Boix and Lucia Gomez de la Puente each had a goal in their final game at the Duke. Senior Emma Gurasich played the second half recording three saves and a steal and UH matched its season low in holding the Gauchos to three goals.
 
The win over the Gauchos (14-13, 1-5 Big West) also marked the final home game for Cole, who will retire from coaching following her 13th season as head coach and picked up her 50th Big West victory.
 
The Rainbow Wahine got senior night off to a hot start with Stertefeld scoring on UH's first possession and Mantellato Dias adding another goal just over midway through the first quarter. With seven seconds remaining in the quarter, the 'Bows drew an exclusion and Perlman drilled in a goal to extend the lead to 3-0. The defense was equally as dominant with Daisy Logtens recording two saves and forcing the Gauchos to go 0-4 on shot attempts.
 
UH opened the second quarter with Agatha Weston nailing a heater from deep. Morgan Rios followed that up by floating a rainbow shot over the head of the goalie to widen the lead. Perlman netted her second goal of the match and Bonamusa Boix converted a penalty shot to push the lead to 7-0.
 
In the final minute of the half, Gomez de la Puente knocked in a goal on a power play opportunity. Esmee Roijen followed that up with a goal of her own to join in on the scoring run. The 'Bows 9-0 scoring run to begin the game came to a close with a UC Santa Barbara goal with two seconds left in the quarter.
 
Mantellato Dias netted the lone goal of the third quarter for both sides and the Rainbow Wahine held a 11-1 lead. 
 
The teams traded two goals each in the fourth quarter and the 'Bows closed out the regular season home and conference schedule undefeated. UH never trailed in seven Big West matches and outscored its conference opponents 100-39.
 
The Rainbow Wahine celebrated Senior Night following the game with Gurasich, Stertefeld, Gomez de la Puente and Bonamusa Boix before an emotional sendoff for Cole, who finished her career 62-23 at the Duke for a .729 winning percentage.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will have a two-week break before returning to action on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. PT (7 a.m. HT) for the Big West tournament in Davis, Calif. The 'Bows enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed and will play the eighth-seeded team in the first round.