HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team returns to Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center for a showdown with Big West co-leader UC Irvine on Thursday, Jan. 29. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
 
The Rainbow Wahine carry a four-game winning streak into their rematch with the Anteaters and started their current run following a 50-47 loss to UC Irvine on Jan. 10 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif.
 
Thursday's game starts a festive homestand at Bankoh Arena with the Rainbow Wahine also set to face Long Beach State on Saturday for this year's edition of "Beeman's Big Bash."
 

GAME 20: HAWAI'I RAINBOW WAHINE (10-9, 4-5 BIG WEST) vs. UC IRVINE ANTEATERS (17-3, 8-1 BIG WEST)
Date | Time				Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026  |  7:00 p.m. HT
Location				Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center
Television				Spectrum Sports - Ch. 12 [SD] and 1012 [HD]
Live Stream				ESPN+ (Blacked out in Hawai'i)
Radio				CBS 1500-AM
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Tickets				etickethawaii.com
Game Notes				Hawai'i | UC Irvine
Promotions				Hawaiian Airlines will be the title sponsor for Thursday Night as the 'Bows celebrate Pride Night. As fans enter through Gate A, they can stop by the Hawaiian Airlines table to grab a roster cards and calendars.  Also at Gate A, our friends from the Hawai'i LGBT Legacy Foundation will be handing out Pride flags and stickers, as well as other information for fans to enjoy. Throughout the game, we'll be handing foam shakas to the crowd after a made three-pointer by UH. At halftime, we'll have a special performance from Daniel Ramos, a talented baton twirler. Jonathan Cabagbag will join us to lead the crowd in the National Anthem and Hawai'i Pono'i. The Rainbow Wahine will be wearing custom Pride Shirts to share in the love of the LGBTQ community.

  UH HEAD COACH LAURA BEEMANAt Hawai'i: 232-178 (14th season)

'BOWS NOTES

• UH's four-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the Big West. The 'Bows' current run ties their longest of the season, matching their four-game winning streak to open the season.
• The 'Bows are coming off a sweep of last week's road trip with wins at CSU Bakersfield (64-52) and CSUN (64-55).
• Freshman guard Bailey Flavell increased her team-leading scoring average to 14.0 points per game during the road trip. The freshman has scored at least 20 points four times and has led the team in scoring in 11 games this season.
• Freshman guard Keiara Curtis is averaging 12.0 points per game in Big West contests and has made at least one 3-pointer in nine consecutive games.
• Senior forward Imani Perez ranks second in the Big West and 33rd nationally with 1.89 blocked shots per game. She ranks second in the conference with 34 total blocks this season and had at least one in 16 of 18 games this season.
• As a team, UH leads the Big West and ranks ninth in the nation with 5.9 blocks per game. UH rate of blocked shots remains ahead of the program record of 5.6 set in the 2004-05 season.
• Senior forward Saniyah Neverson is shooting 58% from the field in Big West contests to lead the conference. 
• UH remains second in the Big West and ranks 28^th nationally in field-goal percentage defense in holding opponents to 36.3% shooting. The 'Bows have held their last five opponents to a combined 32.3% shooting.
• With Flavell and Curtis leading the way, UH's six true freshmen have contributed 51.6% of the team's scoring total. In all, newcomers account for 67% of the team's total points.
• UH ranks second in the Big West and 26th in the nation with 27.1 bench points per game.

THE MATCHUP

UC Irvine Anteaters
Series Record: UH leads 39-16
Streak: UCI won 1
Last Meeting: UCI 50-47; Jan. 10, 2026; Irvine, Calif.

• Hawai'i and UC Irvine meet for the 56th time in a series that began in 1985.
• UC Irvine won this season's first meeting 50-47 on Jan. 10 at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., snapping UH's four-game winning streak in the series. UH led at the end of each of the first three quarters before UCI opened up a seven-point lead in the fourth period and held off UH's comeback bid.
• UH leads 20-4 in meetings played in Honolulu and has won the last two, including a 46-42 victory last year. UCI last won in Mānoa on Jan. 19, 2023, 71-67 in overtime.
• The series has featured defensive battles over the last five meetings with UH averaging 50.6 points to UCI's 45.6 in those matchups.
• UH and UC Irvine have combined to win the last four Big West regular-season titles. UH finished atop the standings in 2022, '24 and '25 followed by UCI. The Anteaters captured the title in 2023.
• UC Irvine head coach Tamara Inoue is in her 10^th season with the Anteaters and has a record of 178-119. She has led UCI to at least 21 wins each of the last four seasons.
• UC Irvine enters the week tied with UC San Diego for first place in the Big West. The Anteaters saw their 16-game winning streak end with a 68-66 loss to UCSD on Jan. 24 in Irvine.
• The Anteaters lead the Big West in scoring defense (57.5 points per game) and rank second in scoring offense (72.0). They rank fourth in the nation in free-throw percentage (80.6) and fifth in free throws made per game (18.05).
• Guard Hunter Hernandez has won four Big West Player of the Week awards this season. The senior leads the Big West in total points (385) and ranks second in points per game (19.3).
• Guard Jada Wynn ranks second in the Big West with 4.0 assists per game, sixth with 7.8 rebounds per game and eighth with 15.5 points per game.

COMING UP: BEEMAN'S BIG BASH, WAHINE EXPERIENCE

• American Savings Bank is the title sponsor for Saturday's game against Long Beach State in this year's edition of "Beeman's Big Bash."
• It's the biggest event of the year for Rainbow Wahine basketball and ASB has plenty of surprises in store for fans, including foam fingers to the first 500 fans through the doors. ASB will also have a prize wheel at Gate A for fans to win clear bags, cooling towels, pom poms, and other prizes.
• During the team introduction of the Rainbow Wahine, cheerleaders will be launching shirts into the crowd, courtesy of ASB. 
• ASB will also be providing a custom small business prize pack for the Tell Terry V Lucky Seat.
• The game will feature the "Target of the Game," where the 'Bows can unlock a prize for fans. Saturday's target is 67 points. If UH scores 67 points, there will be a spam musubi toss courtesy of 7-Eleven at the next timeout.
• During every timeout, the UH marketing team will be giving out Lucky Bags; clear bags filled with team apparel and other goodies.
• At halftime, the UH Rainbow Warrior Dancers will have a special performance featuring kids from their annual Keiki Camp. 
• Nearly 30 former Rainbow Wahine players will be featured throughout the night, thanks to the UH Letterwinners Club. 
• Fans are encouraged to stick around after the game for an autograph session with the team on the concourse near Gate B with 1,000 UH autograph cards available for fans if they don't have an item of their own. 
• Prior to the game, UH and ESPN Honolulu will be hosting the "Wahine Experience" at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. A completely free event for everyone where fans will get to interact with members of every women's team at UH. Sponsors partnered with ESPN Honolulu will be on location, giving out prizes. Fans can enter through Gate 1B, next to the Zone 20 parking structure under the small videoboard of the football facility. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event will wrap up at 6 p.m., encouraging fans to head to the arena for "Beeman's Big Bash."

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