BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team stifled CSU Bakersfield and extended its winning streak to five with a 66-37 victory over the Roadrunners on Saturday at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine (11-6, 5-2 Big West) led 14-10 after the first quarter then broke away with a 23-5 outburst in the second on their way to completing a sweep of their conference road trip and matching their longest winning streak of the season.
Brooklyn Rewers led UH with 15 points off the bench and
Imani Perez finished with 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field.
Rewers hit two 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and blocked three shots.
MeiLani McBee hit three 3-pointers to raise her career total to 190 and move 15 away from the program's career record and finished with nine points. In all, 11 UH players contributed to the scoring for the 'Bows.
UH entered the game atop the Big West in scoring defense and held an opponent under 40 points for the third time this season and allowed fewer than 50 points for the fourth straight game. CSU Bakersfield shot 26.9% from the field, finishing 2 for 15 from 3-point range, to mark the 13
th time in 17 games UH has held an opponent under 40% shooting.
The 'Bows built a 46-24 advantage on the boards and outscored the Roadrunners 36-16 in the paint.
Marley Langi led CSUB (1-16, 1-6) with 11 points and Caitie Gingras finished with eight points.
UH scored on its opening possession on
Ritorya Tamilo's shot in the post 17 seconds into the game and jumped out to an 8-0 lead. CSUB started 0 for 7 from the field before breaking through at the 4:47 mark of the first quarter. Rewers' first 3-pointer gave UH a 14-5 lead and CSUB scored the final five points of the first quarter to close the gap to 14-10.
McBee hit two 3-pointers in the first six minutes of the second quarter and UH led 22-10 before CSUB hit its first bucket of the period.
Kelsie Imai scored on a drive and converted a three-point play and Perez drained a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to send UH into halftime with a 37-15 cushion.
UH shot 51.7% from the field in the first half to CSUB's 19.2% (5 for 26), including a 1 for 10 showing in the second quarter.
Six UH players contributed one basket each in the third quarter, including McBee's third 3-pointer, and the 'Bows led by as many as 31 in the fourth on their way to closing out their 10
th straight win in the series with CSUB.
The Rainbow Wahine return to SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for a two-game homestand featuring matchups with two of the early leaders in the Big West race. UH faces UC Davis (12-6, 6-2) on Thursday, Jan. 23, then take on conference co-leader UC Irvine on Saturday, Jan. 25 when the 'Bows host "Beeman's Bigger Bash."
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