HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team takes a three-game winning streak into its second Big West road trip of the season, which opens with a matchup with CSUN on Thursday, Jan. 16 in Northridge, Calif. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Pacific Time (4 p.m. Hawai'i time).
The Rainbow Wahine swept their first homestand of 2025 with wins over UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton last week — allowing fewer than 50 points in both games — before heading back on the road. They'll cap the trip at Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday, Jan. 18.
| GAME 16: HAWAI'I RAINBOW WAHINE (9-6, 3-2 BIG WEST) at CSUN MATADORS (3-12, 1-5 BIG WEST) |
| Date | Time |
Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 | 6:00 p.m. PT / 4:00 p.m. HT |
| Location |
Premier America Credit Union Arena — Northridge, Calif. |
| Television |
None |
| Live Stream |
ESPN+ |
| Radio |
None |
| Live Stats |
gomatadors.com |
| Game Notes |
Hawai'i | CSUN |
HEAD COACH LAURA BEEMANAt Hawai'i: 209-165 (13th season)
SERIES RECORD vs. CSUNUH leads 17-11
Last meeting: UH, 65-62; March 7, 2024, Northridge, Calif.
TIPOFF
- The UH defense allowed an average of 45.5 points and held UC Riverside and Cal State Fullerton to a combined 33% shooting from the field in last week's sweep at home.
- The Rainbow Wahine jumped to first in the Big West and 21st nationally in scoring defense at 55.2 points allowed per game.
- UH ranks second in the conference and 14th in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (34.7%).
- UH has held 11 opponents under 40% shooting, including four games under 30%, and is 9-2 in those contests.
- MeiLani McBee averaged 12 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last week. The senior shot 45% from the field overall and went 6 for 11 from 3-point range. She's shooting a conference high 52.2% on 3-point attempts (12 for 23) in Big West games.
- McBee raised her career total to 187 made 3-pointers and is 18 away from the program's career record held by Amy Atwell. The senior has played in 123 games in her career, three away from Atwell's UH record.
- Imani Perez posted a season-high 14 points against Cal State Fullerton to go along with four rebounds and two blocked shots.
- Lily Wahinekapu continues to lead the team with 10.7 points per game and 45 assists. The senior is averaging 13.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in Big West play.
- Brooklyn Rewers has provided a boost off the bench by scoring in double figures in five of the last seven games and averaging 7.2 points and 5.4 rebounds in conference games.
- UH is 2-3 in true road games this season and defeated Cal Poly on Jan. 4 in their previous road game. The 'Bows are 2-4 overall away from Mānoa.
- The 'Bows remain atop the Big West and rank 12th nationally in blocks per game (5.6).
- Three UH players rank in the top 10 in the Big West in blocks per game — Ritorya Tamilo (third, 1.50 bpg), Imani Perez (ninth, 1.15) and Brooklyn Rewers (10th, 1.00).
THE MATCHUP
- The Rainbow Wahine and Matadors meet for the 29th time in a series that began on Jan. 3, 1983, a 74-66 UH victory at the Coors Golden Gate Invitational in San Francisco, Calif.
- UH has won the last seven meetings, starting on Feb. 13, 2020 (70-66 in Honoulu).
- CSUN last defeated UH on Jan. 9, 2020, 58-54 in Northridge, Calif.
- UH is 7-4 against CSUN in Northridge and held off the Matadors in a 65-62 win in last year's visit to clinch the Big West regular-season title.
- Angie Ned is in her first season as the Matadors' head coach.
- The Matadors opened 2025 with a win over Cal State Fullerton on Jan. 2 and have dropped their last three with losses to UC Irvine and CSU Bakersfield last week.
- CSUN forward Nnenna Orji played three seasons at UH and was a part of two Big West championship teams. She averages 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game this season.
- Guard Erika Aspajo scored a season-high 22 points against CSU Bakersfield on Jan. 11 and averages a team-high 10.9 points per game.
- Guard Morgan Edwards is only CSUN player to start all 15 games and averages 9.1 ppg.
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