IRVINE, Calif. — The fifth-ranked University of Hawai'i water polo team closed the Barbara Kalbus Invitational with a historic victory on Sunday as the Rainbow Wahine knocked off No. 3 UCLA in the tournament's third-place match at the Anteater Aquatics Complex in Irvine, Calif.

Ema Vernoux scored four goals and Bernadette Doyle posted a hat trick to reach 100 career goals for the Rainbow Wahine (10-3) in UH's fourth win over the Bruins in program history and first since Feb. 24, 2011. UCLA had won the last 21 meetings since and entered Sunday's match with a 59-3 lead in the all-time series.

UH's defense was on lockdown mode, holding UCLA to 5-for-29 (17.2%) shooting from the field, including 2-for-7 on power-play opportunities and 1-for-3 on penalty shots. Daisy Logtens took control at the net tallying nine saves (64.3 SV%) in UH's second win over a top-four team in the national polls during the tournament.

UCLA found the back of the cage twice to begin the game and held the early advantage after the first quarter.

The 'Bows responded in the second quarter with three consecutive goals of their own to take the lead. Jordan Wedderburn scored on a power play opportunity and Vernoux and Doyle converted on penalty shots to help UH take a 3-2 lead. The Bruins netted one more goal to tie the game going into halftime.

Vernoux netted a goal at the 4:41 mark of the third quarter to reclaim the lead, and scored another goal three minutes later to extend the lead.

The Bruins opened with a score to begin the fourth, but Doyle returned the favor with a goal of her own. Vernoux earned a hat trick netting her third goal of the match on a power play. Doyle sealed the victory, scoring her 100th career goal with 20 seconds left in the game to secure a signature victory for the Rainbow Wahine.

UH will open Big West play against UC Santa Barbara on Friday, Mar. 7 at the UCSB Campus Pool in Santa Barbara, Calif. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific Time (3 p.m. Hawai'i Time).
 

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