HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball secured a share of the Big West regular-season championship and the top seed in next week's conference tournament with a 66-51 win over CSU Bakersfield on Thursday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (21-8, 15-4 Big West) claimed the conference regular-season title for the second straight season and the third time in the last four years. As the No. 1 seed in the Hercules Tires Big West Championships, presented by Credit Union 1, UH will have a double-bye into the semifinal round set for March 14 at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev.
UH senior
Kelsie Imai opened her final homestand by tying her career-high with a game-high 12 points. Fellow senior
Lily Wahinekapu hit two 3-pointers and finished with 11 points and junior forward
Imani Perez added 10 points.
Brooklyn Rewers and
Jovi Lefotu provided a boost off the bench with eight points each. Freshman
Kira-May Filemu helped spark the 'Bows with a career-high four assists.
After falling behind 16-10 early in the second quarter, UH outscored CSUB 31-4 to take command on their way to bouncing back from an 0-2 road trip and completing the sweep of the season series with the Roadrunners, who closed the season at 2-28 overall (2-18 Big West).
UH jumped ahead early but CSUB closed the first quarter with a 7-0 run then opened the second with a 3-pointer to open up a 16-10 lead. The 'Bows went on a 6-0 run to tie it up and reclaimed the lead on a Wahinekapu 3-pointer.
Mia 'Uhila made it back-to-back 3s to extend the lead to 22-16. Rewers and
Jade Peacock also drained back-to-back 3-pointers late in the quarter to make it a 19-0 run before CSUB broke its drought and UH carried a 29-18 lead into halftime.
The 'Bows rolled the momentum into the third quarter and shot 59% from the field in the period. UH opened up with widest lead of the game at 48-24 after Lefotu scored on consecutive layups.
UH took a 52-33 into the fourth quarter and CSUB went on an 8-0 run to close to 54-41 with 6:41 left. The Roadrunners were within 12 with 2:34 left but Imai erased any doubt with a personal 6-0 run capped by a 3-pointer with 1:42 remaining.
The Rainbow Wahine close the regular season by taking on CSUN on Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. UH will honor six seniors — Wahinekapu, 'Uhila, Rewers, McBee, Imai and
Hallie Birdsong — on Show'UHM Your Aloha Senior Night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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