HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team makes its 2025 home debut in a matchup against UC Riverside on Thursday, Jan. 9 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center to open a two-game Big West homestand. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (7-6, 1-2 Big West) returned to Manoa coming off a split of their first conference road trip of the season and will play their first home game in 24 days when they take on the Highlanders (7-7, 3-1). They'll close the weekend by taking on Cal State Fullerton on Saturday.
 

GAME 14: HAWAI'I  RAINBOW WAHINE (7-6, 1-2 BIG WEST) vs. UC RIVERSIDE HIGHLANDERS (7-7, 3-1 BIG WEST)
Date | Time				Thursday, Jan. 9, 2024  |  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 Riverside

  HEAD COACH LAURA BEEMANAt Hawai'i: 207-165 (13th season)

SERIES RECORD vs. UC RIVERSIDEUH leads 17-7
Last meeting: UH, 62-51, March 2, 2024; Honolulu

TIPOFF

• The Rainbow Wahine will play their first home game since a 56-15 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 16.
• The Rainbow Wahine opened the new year with a 72-62 loss at UC Santa Barbara on Thursday, then bounced back to defeat Cal Poly 62-50 on Saturday for their first win of the Big West season.
• Lily Wahinekapu averaged 15.5 points and five assists per game during last week's road trip and continues to lead the 'Bows this season with 11.0 points per game. The senior shot 58.8% from the field over the week, connecting on 10 of 17 attempts.
• The 'Bows are 5-2 at home this season and 18-5 over the last two seasons.
• The 'Bows remain atop the Big West and ninth nationally in blocks per game (5.9).
• UH entered the week second in the conference and 15^th in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (35.0%).
• Three UH players rank in the top 10 in the Big West in blocks per game — Ritorya Tamilo (third, 1.75 bpg), Brooklyn Rewers (eighth, 1.08), and Imani Perez (10th, 1.00).
• UH has held nine opponents under 40% shooting, including four games under 30%, and is 7-2 in those contests.

 
THE MATCHUP

• Hawai'i and UC Riverside meet for the 25^th time in Thursday's game.
• UH leads the series with the Highlanders 17-7. The teams split the series last season with both teams winning at home.
• UH won six straight over UCR before the Highlanders pulled out a 66-58 win on Jan. 13, 2024 in Riverside to end the streak. The 'Bows won the rematch 62-51 on March 2, on senior night.
• Brad Langston is in his second year as UCR's head coach (he served as interim coach last season) and has a record of 25-21. He was an assistant coach under UH's Laura Beeman for one season with the Rainbow Wahine (2016-17).
• Langston led the Highlanders to an 18-14 record last season, a 12-win improvement over the previous year.
• UCR split a homestand last week, falling to Long Beach State (63-48) on Jan. 2 before defeating UC Irvine (59-54) on Jan. 4 in Riverside, Calif. The win over UC Irvine was UCR's first since 2021.
• The Highlanders rank second in the Big West and 50^th nationally in steals per game (10.6). They're also second in the conference with 19.43 turnovers forced per game.
• Guard Shelly Duchemin leads UCR with 11.7 points per game
• Freshman guard Hannah Wickstrom leads the Highlanders with 18 3-pointers.
• Senior forward Esther Matarranz leads UCR on the boards with 7.2 rebounds per game.

#HawaiiWBB