LA JOLLA, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team put in extra work to extend their winning streak to eight with a dramatic 65-63 overtime victory over UC San Diego in Thursday's Big West duel at LionTree Arena in La Jolla, Calif.
UH survived regulation when a UCSD layup rolled off the rim at the buzzer and Rainbow Wahine guard
Jovi Lefotu backed her way into the paint to score the go-ahead bucket with a minute left in overtime. UH (14-6, 8-2 Big West) then held off the host Tritons (10-12, 6-4) in the final seconds to remain in a tie for first place in the conference standings.
Lily Wahinekapu scored a game-high 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field, including three 3-pointers, and led the 'Bows with eight rebounds.
Imani Perez also drained three shots from long range to tie her career high and finished with 11 points.
Kelsie Imai provided a boost off the bench with a season-high 10 points and four assists, and Lefotu added eight points, the final two providing the last of the game's 11 lead changes.
UH's eight-game winning streak matches its longest since the 'Bows' late-season surge in 2022 on their way to the Big West championship. They ended the Thursday's play tied with UC Irvine, which defeated Long Beach State, in the Big West race.
UCSD, which leads the Big West in steals, swiped nine on Thursday and UH overcame 22 turnovers to win for the fourth straight meeting with the Tritons and snap UCSD's four-game winning streak. Sumayah Sugapong, the reigning Big West Player of the Week, led four UCSD players in double figures with 17 points before fouling out in overtime.
Sabrina Ma went 4-for-5 from 3-point range and finished with 16 points, Gracie Gallegos added 14 points and the Tritons became the first team to break 50 points against UH since Jan. 2.
The Tritons came up with two early turnovers and hit its first three shots to jump out to a 6-0 lead. UH answered with a 14-2 run bookended by Wahinekapu 3-pointers.
Jade Peacock added another 3-pointer and the 'Bows took a 17-13 lead into the second quarter.
MeiLani McBee opened the second with a 3-pointer and UH opened up its widest lead of the game at 25-15 when Perez connected from the corner. UCSD responded with a 6-0 run and later closed to 29-26 on a Gallegos 3-pointer with 1:23 left in the half. UH regained some momentum when Wahinekapu fed Perez for a 3-pointer with four seconds left to send the 'Bows into halftime with a 32-26 cushion.
UH managed to fend off the Tritons in the third until UCSD put together an 8-0 run to take a 46-44 lead and Lefotu scored on a drive to forge a 46-46 tie going into the fourth quarter.
Ma banked in the 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter, but Imai drained her first triple of the season to tie it up again.
There would be two more ties before Ma hit another 3-pointer to push UCSD ahead 59-58 with 17 seconds left in regulation. Wahinekapu drew a foul and made one of two free throws to knot the score at 59-59. UCSD had a shot to win it but Sugapong's driving layup stayed out of the basket to send the game to overtime.
UCSD scored first in OT but Wahinekapu gave UH the lead when her 3-pointer bounced high off the rim and dropped through the net. UCSD edged ahead with two free throws and Lefotu's basket in the post pushed UH into the lead. The 'Bows came up with a stop and Wahinekapu went 1 for 2 from the line with 8 seconds showing. UCSD couldn't get a tying shot off before the buzzer to close out the duel. The Tritons went 1 for 9 from the field in overtime.
The Rainbow Wahine finish off their Southern California road trip and start the second half of the Big West schedule on Saturday when they take on Cal State Fullerton (4-16, 2-8) at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Pacific Time (noon Hawai'i Time).
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