HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team carries its best start in 25 years into this weekend's American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The Rainbow Wahine (4-0) open the post-Thanksgiving tournament on Friday, Nov. 28 against Vermont of the America East and face Lindenwood of the Ohio Valley Conference on Saturday, Nov. 29. They finish off the tournament on Sunday, Nov. 30 against Santa Clara of the West Coast Conference. The 'Bows are set to play at 2:30 p.m. each day.
 
UH won two games decided in the final minute in last week's Bank of Hawai'i Classic to improve to 4-0 for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
 

GAMES 5-7: AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK RAINBOW WAHINE SHOWDOWN
Tournament Schedule				Friday, Nov. 28 Lindenwood (4-1) vs. Santa Clara (5-2), 12:00 p.m.  Vermont (4-2) vs. Hawai'i (4-0), 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 Santa Clara vs. Vermont, 12:00 p.m.  Lindenwood vs. Hawai'i, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30 Lindenwood vs. Vermont, 12:00 p.m. Santa Clara vs. Hawai'i, 2:30 p.m.
Location				Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				None
Live Stream				ESPN+ — Hawai'i vs. Vermont | Hawai'i vs. Lindenwood | Hawai'i vs. Santa Clara
Radio				Hawai"i games on ESPN Honolulu (Friday, Sunday), CBS 1500 (Saturday)
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Tickets				etickethawaii.com (Season tickets and single game)
Game Notes				Hawai'i | Vermont | Lindenwood | Santa Clara
Promotions				Coming soon

  HEAD COACH LAURA BEEMANAt Hawai'i: 224-169 (14th season)

'BOWS NOTES

• The Rainbow Wahine enter the week seeking the program's first 5-0 start since the 1993-94 season.
• Freshman Bailey Flavell leads UH with 11.8 points per game and either scored or assisted on the go-ahead baskets in both of last week's wins over LMU and Portland.
• Sophomore Ritorya Tamilo made her season debut in the Bank of Hawai'i Classic and was named the tournament's MVP after scoring 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting in the finale against Portland.
• UH enters the week leading the Big West and ranked 11^th nationally in field-goal percentage defense in holding opponents to 31% shooting.
• The 'Bows also lead the conference in scoring defense in allowing 54.0 points per game.
• Through four games, UH's top five scorers are newcomers, including four true freshmen. Freshmen and sophomores account for 79.6% of UH's scoring.
• Senior Saniyah Neverson has made an instant impact as a transfer. The forward averages 7.0 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game.
• Freshman Kyra Webb has provided production off the bench through two games with 6.3 rebounds per game) and 6.5 points per game. UH ranks second in the Big West and 35^th nationally with 30.8 bench points per game.
• UH returned to the Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Top 25 at No. 19 in this week's poll. Santa Clara (28) and Lindenwood (36) are among the teams receiving votes in the poll.
• This week's tournament caps the 'Bows' seven-game homestand to open the season. They'll embark on their first road trip of the season for the Big West's Bold Week and will play at UC Davis (Dec. 4) and at Cal State Fullerton (Dec. 6) to open the conference schedule.

THE MATCHUPS

Vermont Catamounts
Series History: First meeting
Streak: First meeting
Last Meeting: First meeting

• Friday's game will mark the first women's basketball meeting between UH and Vermont.
• Vermont head coach Alisa Kresge is in her eighth season and has a record of 122-83. She has led the Catamounts to two America East championships and four consecutive 20-win seasons.
• The Catamounts won their first four games, including a 137-31 season-opening rout of Dean College, and has dropped two straight. They lost at Washington, 71-39, in Seattle on Sunday before making the trip to Honolulu.
• Vermont went 21-13 last season and won the America East championship to reach the NCAA Tournament.
• The Catamounts were voted first in the America East Preseason Poll. Guard Catherine Gilwee and center Nikola Priede were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Priede leads Vermont with 16.7 points per game and ranks 18^th nationally in field-goal percentage at 63.0%. She also leads the America East with two blocked shots per game.

Lindenwood Lions
Series History: First meeting
Streak: First meeting
Last Meeting: First meeting

• Saturday's game will mark the first women's basketball meeting between UH and Lindenwood.
• Lions head coach Amy Eagan is in her 17^th year overall and third year at Lindenwood. She has a 307-185 overall record and 34-33 at Lindenwood and was the 2024-25 Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year.
• The Lions have won three straight since a 76-63 loss at No. 16 Baylor. They earned an 85-41 win over Omaha on Saturday prior to the trip to Hawai'i.
• Lindenwood went 23-11 last season and advanced to the Super 16 of the WNIT in the program's first Division I postseason berth.
• The Lions were voted first in the OVC preseason poll and Mya Skoff and Gracy Wernli were named to the conference's Players to Watch list.
• Lindenwood leads the OVC and ranks 11^th nationally with 20.6 assists per game.
• Ellie Bruggemann leads the team with 16.0 points per game. Brooke Coffey leads the OVC in field-goal percentage at 60.5% and has three double-doubles this season.

Santa Clara Broncos
Series History: UH leads 7-3
Streak: SC won 1
Last Meeting: SC 62-51; Nov. 11, 2023; Santa Clara, Calif.

• UH and Santa Clara will meet for the 11th time in a series that began in 1978.
• Santa Clara won the last meeting in Santa Clara in the opening week of the 2023-24 season. UH last defeated the Broncos on Dec. 10, 2005, 73-69 on the road.
• UH is 3-1 at home against Santa Clara. The Broncos defeated the 'Bows 75-68 on Nov. 26, 2004 in their last meeting in Honolulu.
• Loree Payne is in her first season as Santa Clara's head coach and has a career record of 271-176 over 16 seasons overall. She previously coached at Northern Arizona, where she worked with current Rainbow Wahine forward Saniyah Neverson.
• Santa Clara was voted fifth in the West Coast Conference preseason poll. Sophie Glancey and Maia Jones were named to the WCC Preseason Team.
• Glancey leads the nation with 23 blocked shots and ranks fourth with 3.29 blocks per game.
• Jones leads the team with 15.1 points per game and ranks 16^th nationally with 19 made 3-pointers.

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