HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team stifled the Big West's highest scoring team and opened a key conference homestand with a 56-46 win over UC Davis on Thursday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (12-6, 6-2 Big West) held an opponent under 50 points for the fifth straight game while running their winning streak to six. UC Davis entered the game leading the conference with 70.7 points per game and 33.9 percent shooting from 3-point range. UH limited the Aggies (12-7, 6-3) to a season-low point total on 33 percent shooting overall and a 1-for-21 performance from beyond the arc.
Brooklyn Rewers led the 'Bows with 12 points off the bench and hit a key 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and came up with a block in the final minutes to help UH snuff UC Davis' comeback hopes. It marked the eighth time in the last 10 games Rewers cracked double-digit scoring.
UH forward Imani Perez continued her recent hot streak by hitting all three of her 3-point attempts and finished with 11 points. The junior also filled the stat sheet with a season-high nine rebounds and three steals. Guard Lily Wahinekapu also finished with 11 points and Jovi Lefotu tied her season high with nine points. The sister combo also combined to go 8 for 8 from the free-throw line.
Both teams started 1-for-5 from the field in a low scoring first quarter. Rewers gave UH a lead with a bucket in the post and a baseline jumper, Perez hit a corner 3-pointer and the 'Bows led 11-8 after the first 10 minutes.
Wahinekapu and Lefotu hit back-to-back 3-pointers in an 10-0 UH run that gave the 'Bows a 24-10 lead. The teams traded buckets before UC Davis went on a 9-0 run to close the half and Victoria Baker's putback with 2 seconds left cut the UH lead to 26-21 going into halftime.
The Aggies scored first in the third quarter to extend the run to 11-0 before Ritorya Tamilo hit a mid-range jumper. UC Davis went 0-for-7 beyond the arc in the first half. The Aggies got their first 3 to fall to close the gap to 28-26 at the 7:54 mark of the third quarter.
Perez's second 3-pointer of the quarter and third of the game stretched UH's lead to 40-30 and her score in the post gave UH a 42-34 cushion going into the fourth quarter.
UH would hold on to their lead but the Aggies made it interesting. UC Davis closed to 45-42 when Sabel banked in a jumper but Rewers answered with a 3-pointer from the top. Minutes later a steal and ensuing fastbreak layup by Baker made it just a 48-46 UH lead with less than three minutes left.
But MeiLani McBee converted a three-point play on the very next possession as the 'Bows ended the game on an 8-0 run and held the Aggies scoreless for the final 2:45.
UH dominated the glass, 43-28, and finished 14-of-18 from the free throw line.
The win set up a battle at the top of the Big West on Saturday when UH hosts UC Irvine (13-5, 7-1) in "Beeman's Bigger Bash." The 'Bows are just one game behind the first-place Anteaters in the conference standings. TIpoff for the game is at 7:00 p.m.
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'Bows host Beeman's Bigger Bash on Saturday
On Saturday, Jan. 25, the Rainbow Wahine will host "Beeman's Bigger Bash" sponsored by American Savings Bank. The first 1,000 fans through the doors for the game against UC Irvine will receive a commemorative bobblehead of head coach
Laura Beeman courtesy of Ho'ea. Throughout the night, 1,000 shirts designed from the "sUHrf City" jersey will be distributed to fans, thanks to ASB.
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