HONOLULU — Riding the momentum of a five-game winning streak, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team returns to SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center to face two of the leading contenders in the Big West race, starting with a showdown with UC Davis on Thursday, Jan. 23.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (11-6, 5-2 Big West) enter the week fourth in a tight pack atop the conference standings, a half-game behind third-place UC Davis (12-6, 6-2). The 'Bows will cap the homestand by taking on conference co-leader UC Irvine (12-5, 6-1) on Saturday, Jan. 25 when the 'Bows host "Beeman's Bigger Bash." Tipoff for both games is set for 7 p.m.
 
UH swept last week's road trip with decisive victories at CSUN and CSU Bakersfield and the 'Bows' five-game winning streak matches their longest of the season.
 

GAME 18: HAWAI'I RAINBOW WAHINE (11-6, 5-2 BIG WEST) vs. UC DAVIS AGGIES (12-6, 6-2 BIG WEST)
Date | Time				Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025  |  7:00 p.m. HT
Location				SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				Spectrum Sports - Ch. 12 [SD] and 1012 [HD]
Live Stream				ESPN+ (Blacked out in Hawai'i)
Radio				ESPN Honolulu
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Game Notes				Hawai'i | UC Davis
Promotions				Pride Night: Everyone is accepted and loved at Rainbow Wahine basketball games, and on this night we shine the spotlight on the LBGTQ community.

  HEAD COACH LAURA BEEMANAt Hawai'i: 211-165 (13th season)

SERIES RECORD vs. UC DAVISOverall: UC Davis leads 17-13
Last meeting: UCD, 51-48, March 15, 2024; Henderson, Nev.

TOUGH ON D

• Thursday's game will feature two of the top defensive teams statistically in the Big West and the nation. UC Davis ranks third in NCAA Division I in field-goal percentage defense at 33.6% with Hawai'i fifth at 33.8%.
• The Rainbow Wahine entered the week first in the Big West and 10^st nationally in scoring defense at 53.6 points allowed per game.
• UH has held 13 opponents under 40% shooting, including six games under 30%, and is 11-2 in those contests. Last week, UH held CSUN and CSU Bakersfield to a combined 27.3% shooting and 42 points per game.
• The 'Bows remain atop the Big West and rank 11th 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 (fourth, 1.44 bpg), Imani Perez (sixth, 1.27) and Brooklyn Rewers (10th, 1.06).

STACKING WINS

• UH's five-game winning streak matches its longest of the season. The Rainbow Wahine won five straight from Nov. 9 (at Portland State) to Nov. 30 (vs. UT Martin).
• The Rainbow Wahine have held their last five opponents to 50 points or fewer, allowing an average of 45 points per game on 30.2% shooting during their current winning streak. 
• UH has controlled the boards over the last five games with a plus-14 rebounding margin over that span. The 'Bows are 9-0 when outrebounding their opponents this season.
• The 'Bows are shooting 41.4% from the field over the last five games while averaging 63.6 points per game and posting an 18-point average scoring margin.
• The 'Bows posted their highest point totals in a quarter (26), half (45) and game (75) in last Thursday's win at CSUN.
• UH enters the week 7-2 at home this season and has won its last three home games. The 'Bows improved to 4-3 in true road games in sweeping last week's road trip. The 'Bows are 4-4 away from Manoa overall.

'BOWS NOTES

• Imani Perez has scored in double figures in each of the last three games, averaging 14.3 points while shooting 60.7% from the field over that span. The junior is shooting a Big West-leading 55.6% from the field in conference play.
• Lily Wahinekapu continues to lead the team with 10.5 points per game and 50 assists. The senior is averaging 12.4 points and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 49.2% from the field in Big West play.
• Brooklyn Rewers has provided a boost off the bench by scoring in double figures in seven of the last nine games. She is averaging 9.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in Big West games.
• MeiLani McBee has 190 3-pointers for her career and is 15 away from the program's record held by Amy Atwell. The senior has played in 125 games in her career, and will tie Atwell's UH record of 126 with her next game appearance.
• UH head coach Laura Beeman earned the 600^th overall win of her career on Jan. 16 at CSUN. She posted 390 wins at Mt. San Antonio College (1994-2010) and now has 211 wins over her 13 seasons leading the Rainbow Wahine.

 
THE MATCHUP

• The Rainbow Wahine and Aggies meet for the 31st time in a series that began on Jan. 3, 1976.
• UH and UC Davis split last year's regular-season series with both teams winning at home. UC Davis then held off the 'Bows 51-48 in the semifinals of the Big West Championship in Henderson, Nev., ending UH's bid for a third consecutive tournament title.
• UH is 8-7 against UC Davis in Honolulu and won last year's meeting in Mānoa 63-57 in overtime. Lily Wahinekapu scored 12 of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter and OT.
• UH and UC Davis are 3-3 in the last six meetings going back to the 2021-22 season.
• UC Davis split a homestand last week with a win over Cal Poly and a loss to UC Santa Barbara.
• UC Davis leads the Big West in 12 statistical categories, including scoring offense (70.7 points per game), field-goal percentage (43.5), 3-point percentage (33.9), field-goal percentage defense (33.6), assists per game (15.3), and rebound margin (5.2).
• The Aggies rank third nationally in field-goal percentage defense and ninth in defensive rebounds per game (30.7).
• Senior guard Tova Sabel leads the Big West with 269 total points and ranks third with 14.9 points per game. She's also second in field-goal percentage at 39.7%.
• Center Megan Norris is second on the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game. The junior is second in the conference with 137 total rebounds and third with 7.6 rebounds per game.
• UH and UC Davis have accounted for four of the last five Big West Championship titles. The Aggies claimed the 2019 and 2021 conference tournament titles and UH won in 2022 and '23. UC Irvine defeated UC Davis in last year's final.

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