HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team opened 2026 with a back-and-forth duel with UC Riverside before coming up short in a 65-58 Big West loss on Thursday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (6-7, 0-3 Big West) erased an eight-point halftime deficit to take the lead early in the fourth quarter. The teams traded the lead eight times before UC Riverside moved ahead with 1:56 left and the Highlanders (4-9, 2-1) held on from there.
UH freshman Keiara Curtis scored a season-high 17 points, 11 coming in the second half, in her third consecutive game in double figures. Fellow freshman Bailey Flavell also scored 11 points in the second half and finished with 15. Forward Saniyah Neverson helped spark the comeback after halftime and added 11 points. Imani Perez grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with eight points and posted her 99th career blocked shot.
UCR guard Hannah Wickstrom entered the game as the Big West's second leading scorer and scored 18 points in the first half to help the Highlanders build a 32-24 lead. She scored 10 more in the fourth quarter to finish with a career-high 36 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the field and 11-for-11 from the free-throw line.
UC Riverside got out to a 6-for-8 start from the field with two 3-pointers to take a 14-8 lead. Curtis ignited the UH offense with two fast-break buckets and Jade Peacock drained a 3-pointer to cap an 8-1 run that pushed the 'Bows ahead 16-15 at the end of the first period.
Both teams struggled from the field early in the second quarter with UH going 1-for-11 with six turnovers while UCR took a 29-20 lead with an 8-0 surge. After Neverson ended the run with a bucket in the paint, Wickstrom answered with a 3-pointer and Neverson scored again just before the buzzer to make it an eight-point margin going into halftime. Wickstrom accounted for 13 of UCR's 17 points in the period.
Neverson continued to work inside and Curtis scored on a layup to cut the deficit to three midway through the third quarter. UCR maintained a 46-42 lead heading into the fourth quarter and Perez hit a 3-pointer to ignite a 7-0 UH run to open the final period.
Curtis scored on a drive to give UH a 47-46 lead and Jovi Lefotu scored on a drive of her own to give UH a three-point edge. UCR answered with a 5-0 run to reclaim the lead and the teams traded the lead seven times before the Highlanders went back ahead with 1:56 left. UH came up empty on its next possession and Wickstrom scored on a jumper in the paint to give UCR a 59-56 lead with 1:08 left. The Highlanders ultimately scored 10 of the final 12 points of the game to secure the win.
The Rainbow Wahine close out their homestand on Saturday when they'll face UC San Diego. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
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