FULLERTON, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team again leaned on its defense to extend its winning streak to nine in a 54-47 Big West road victory over Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at Titan Gym in Fullerton, Calif.
UH center
Brooklyn Rewers broke out of a recent scoring lull with a game-high 11 points and forward
Imani Perez's bucket in the paint with 43 seconds left helped the Rainbow Wahine (15-6, 9-2 Big West) fend off the host Titans (4-17, 2-9) and remain tied for first place in the conference standings.
UH's winning streak is the program's longest in a decade, having last won nine in a row during a 15-game run in the 2014-15 season.
UH shot 33.9% from the field to Cal State Fullerton's 38.5%, but came up with 10 steals while forcing 18 turnovers and held an opponent under 50 points for the seventh time in the last eight games. The 'Bows finished 13 for 14 from the free-throw line led by
Kelsie Imai's 7-for-8 performance in the program's 12
th straight win in the series with the Titans.
Perez and guards
Mia 'Uhila and
Jovi Lefotu scored eight points each in a balanced scoring effort for the 'Bows.
Aixchel Hernandez posted a double-double for Cal State Fullerton with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Eva Levingston added eight points and 10 boards.
After the teams traded early baskets, Rewers hit the game's first 3-pointer on a rainbow from the top to give UH a 7-4 lead at the 5:29 mark of the first quarter. The 'Bows would remain in front for the remainder of the afternoon, extending the margin to 11 in the third quarter before holding off the Titans in the fourth.
UH led 14-10 after the first quarter and opened up a 20-14 edge when 'Uhila converted a steal into a breakaway layup. Cal State Fullerton twice closed to within two but Rewers' turnaround jumper with 52 seconds left sent UH into halftime with a 24-20 lead.
The 'Bows opened the second half with
Lily Wahinekapu coming up with a steal and finding
MeiLani McBee for a 3-pointer that bounced off the front of the rim and into the net. Moments later, Perez scored in transition off a feed from 'Uhila, who later scored inside on an assist from Rewers to give UH a 31-20 lead.
The 'Bows held the Titans scoreless for the final 3:53 of the first half and the first 3:29 of the second. But Cal State Fullerton remained within striking distance and closed to 40-36 going into the fourth quarter.
Cal State Fullerton again closed to within two at 42-40 on Emily Strachan's jumper with 6:10 left. But
Ritorya Tamilo knocked down two free throws, Rewers hit a baseline jumper off an assist from Imai and Lefotu scored on a spinning shot in the paint to push the lead back to eight.
The Titans made one more surge and cut the lead to 48-45 when Aaliyah Stanton scored with 1:14 left. But Perez backed in against Levingston and tossed in a shot off the backboard to give UH some breathing room and Lefotu and Imai put the game away from the free-throw line.
The Rainbow Wahine return home for a two-game homestand starting Thursday, Feb. 6 against Cal Poly at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The 'Bows then face UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, Feb. 8. Both games are set for 7 p.m. Hawai'i Time.
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