HONOLULU — University of Hawai'i women's basketball team's fourth-quarter fortitude propelled the Rainbow Wahine to a 66-61 win over Portland and he Bank of Hawai'i Classic title on Sunday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
For the fourth time this season, the Rainbow Wahine found themselves in a battle in the final period and for the fourth time they delivered key plays down the stretch while improving to 4-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
Center
Ritorya Tamilo scored the last two of her team-high 16 points on a layup off an assist from
Bailey Flavell, her teammate with New Zealand's national team, to break at 60-60 tie with 46 seconds left. Flavell then hit four free throws in the final 12 seconds to seal UH's second straight Bank of Hawai'i Classic championship.
In her second game since returning from an injury, Tamilo tied her career high while shooting 6 for 8 from the field, including her second career 3-pointer, and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Flavell finished with nine points, going 7 for 8 from the free-throw line, five rebounds and three assists and was voted to the All-Tournament team.
Imani Perez connected on two 3-pointers and finished with eight points and 11 UH players contributed to the scoring.
Rhyan Mogel led Portland (2-4) with 16 points and went 3-for-3 from 3-point range. Nicole Rodriguez also hit three from long range and finished with 13 points. Dyani Ananiev also had 13 points and represented the Pilots on the All-Tournament team.
Portland jumped out to a 7-0 lead and was up 11-4 when Tamilo scored inside and
Kira-May Filemu hit a mid-range jumper to spark a 9-0 UH run. The 'Bows went up 13-11 when Tamilo drained her second career 3-pointer.
Portland heated up from long range with four 3-pointers in a little more than 2 minutes to go back ahead 32-29. Ananiev scored the final two buckets of the half to send the Pilots into halftime leading 36-30.
With Portland up 38-32,
Saniyah Neverson found
Rebecca Moors inside for a layup and, moments later, scored on a putback while drawing a foul and her free throw brought UH to within a point. Filemu hit a 3-pointer to extend the run to 8-0 and give UH a 40-38 lead. But Portland responded again and led 48-47 heading into the fourth.
Portland scored the first five points of the fourth quarter and UH continued to battle back and trailed 55-53 when Perez hit her second 3-pointer. UH caught the Pilots at 56-56 on a 3-pointer by
Teyahna Bond from the top with 5:13 left.
After Rodriguez gave Portland its final lead at 60-58, Tamilo scored on a putback to tie the game with 1:28 left. After a defensive stop, Flavell drove into the paint and dropped a pass to Tamilo on the block for the go-ahead layup. The 'Bows hung on from there to avenge a loss to Portland in last year's season opener to seal UH's first win over the Pilots since Dec. 4, 1992
The Rainbow Wahine next host the three-day American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Nov. 28-30 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The 'Bows will face Vermont, Lindenwood and Santa Clara in the tournament, which closes UH's season-opening homestand.
Bank of Hawai'i Classic All-Tournament Team
Taysia Jordan, Idaho State
Jess Lawson, Loyola Marymount
Maya Hernandez, Loyola Marymount
Dyani Ananiev, Portland
Bailey Flavell, Hawai'i
Most Valuable Player: Ritorya Tamilo, Hawai'i
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