HONOLULU — After a rousing victory over a conference contender on Thursday, the University of Hawai'i women's basketball team takes a six-game winning streak into a matchup with Big West co-leader UC Irvine on Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
The Rainbow Wahine enter the matchup — billed as Beeman's Bigger Bash — riding their longest winning streak of the season after fending off UC Davis 56-46 on Thursday. They head into Saturday's play at 12-6 overall and 6-2 in conference, one game behind Big West leaders UC Irvine (13-5, 7-1) and Long Beach State.

UH is targeting the program's attendance record in a stand-alone game. The current record stands at 6,192 set in 1998. Last season's Beeman's Big Bash drew the highest figure since at 5,068, also the highest during head coach Laura Beeman's tenure.
 

GAME 19: HAWAI'I RAINBOW WAHINE (12-6, 6-2 BIG WEST) vs. UC IRVINE ANTEATERS (13-5, 7-1 BIG WEST)
Date | Time				Saturday, Jan. 25, 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				CBS 1500
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Game Notes				Hawai'i | UC Irvine
Promotions				The Rainbow Wahine host "Beeman's Bigger Bash" sponsored by American Savings Bank. The first 1,000 fans through the doors 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.

  HEAD COACH LAURA BEEMANAt Hawai'i: 212-165 (13th season)

SERIES RECORD vs. UC IRVINEOverall: UH leads 37-15
Last meeting: UH 55, UCI 43; Feb. 3. 2024, Honolulu.

TOUGH ON D

• Saturday's game will feature the Big West's top two teams in scoring defense. UH leads the Big West and ranks eighth in NCAA Division I in scoring defense in allowing 53.2 points per game. The Anteaters rank second in the Big West and 20^th nationally at 55.7 points allowed per game.
• The 'Bows held UC Davis to 32.7% shooting on Thursday and rose to fifth nationally in field-goal percentage defense in limiting opponents to 33.8% shooting.
• UH has held 14 opponents under 40% shooting, including six games under 30%, and is 12-2 in those contests.
• The 'Bows remain atop the Big West and rank 15th nationally in blocks per game (5.3). Three UH players rank in the top 10 in the Big West in blocks per game — Ritorya Tamilo (fourth, 1.35 bpg), Imani Perez (eighth, 1.19) and Brooklyn Rewers (ninth, 1.06).

STACKING WINS

• UH's current six-game winning streak is the longest since the 'Bows won their final seven games of the regular season last year.
• The Rainbow Wahine have held each of their last six opponents to 50 points or fewer, allowing an average of 45.2 points per game on 30.7% shooting during their current winning streak. 
• UH has controlled the boards over the last six games with a plus-14 rebounding margin over that span. The 'Bows are 10-0 when outrebounding their opponents this season.
• The 'Bows are shooting 40.3% from the field over the last six games while averaging 62.3 points per game and posting a 17.1-point average scoring margin.
• UH enters the week 8-2 at home this season and has won its last four home games. The 'Bows are 21-5 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center over the last two seasons.

'BOWS NOTES

• Lily Wahinekapu continues to lead the team with 10.6 points per game, 52 assists and 23 steals. The senior is averaging 12.3 points while shooting 47.8% from the field in Big West play.
• Imani Perez has scored in double figures in each of the last four games, averaging 13.5 points while shooting 60% from the field over that span. The junior is shooting a Big West-leading 55.8% in conference play and tied her career high with three 3-pointers against UC Davis on Thursday. 
• Brooklyn Rewers has provided a boost off the bench by scoring in double figures in eight of the last 10 games. She is averaging 9.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in Big West play.
• 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 126 games in her career and is tied with Atwell for the UH record.
• 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 212 wins over her 13 seasons leading the Rainbow Wahine.

 
THE MATCHUP

• UH and UC Irvine enter the game with the longest winning streaks in the Big West. The 'Bows have won six in a row and the Anteaters have won their last five.
• The Rainbow Wahine and Anteaters meet for the 53rd time in a series that dates back to Jan. 21, 1985, an 80-50 UC Irvine victory.
• UH leads 19-4 in games played in Honolulu. The 'Bows won last year's meeting 55-43. The Anteaters pulled out a 71-67 overtime win on Jan. 19, 2023.
• UH swept the regular-season series with UCI last year. The Anteaters swept the 'Bows in 2023.
• The teams have combined to win the last two Big West regular-season and championship titles. UCI captured its first Big West regular-season title in 2023 and UH went on to claim the Big West Championship crown. UH finished atop the regular-season standings last year before UCI won the conference championship in Henderson, Nev.
• UCI head coach Tamara Inoue is in her ninth season at has a career record of 153-111.
• UC Irvine has won its last five games and is coming off a 56-53 win over UC Riverside on Thursday at the Bren Events Center.
• The Anteaters rank second in the Big West and 20^th nationally in scoring defense 55.7 points allowed per game.
• Hunter Hernandez leads UC Irvine with 13.6 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game.
• Sophomore forward Summah Hanson is next with 10.4 ppg and 5.4 rpg coming off the bench.
• Senior guard Deja Lee was last year's Big West Player of the Year and MVP of the Big West Championship. She is averaging 10.3 points and leads the team with 57 assists and 35 steals.

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