HONOLULU — The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team weathered a physical battle with Cal State Bakersfield to emerge with a 61-54 win on Thursday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine (13-10, 7-6 Big West) trailed after each of the first three quarters before outscoring the visiting Roadrunners (7-17, 2-12) 17-6 in the final period to earn their seventh win in the last eight games.
UH forward
Saniyah Neverson and center
Ritorya Tamilo tied for team-high honors with 13 points and six rebounds each to help the 'Bows complete a sweep of the regular-season series with CSUB. Neverson went 4-for-6 from the field while Tamilo set a career high with nine free throws in 10 attempts. As a team, the 'Bows hit a season-high 25 free throws on 29 attempts from the line in a game that included 44 total fouls called.
The duo also helped spark the 'Bows on the defensive end of the court. Tamilo tied her season high with three blocked shots and Neverson matched her season best with three steals.
Guard
Bailey Flavell finished with 12 points and drained a clinching 3-pointer with 17 seconds left.
Keiara Curtis added 10 points with an 8-for-9 performance from the foul line.
CSUB guard Crishawn Coleman scored 12 of her 16 points in the first half. Marley Langi also scored 16 points and hit three 3-pointers.
The Roadrunners raced out to a 10-0 lead with a 4-for-6 start from the field to prompt an early UH timeout.
Kyra Webb broke the ice for the 'Bows with a putback at the 5:26 mark of the first quarter. The Roadrunners took a 15-4 lead with their third 3-pointer of the period. Tamilo had six points and three rebounds in the opening period and her putback brought UH to 15-8 heading into the second quarter.
UH went on an 8-2 run and closed to 19-18 on back-to-back buckets by Webb. UH took its first lead at 24-23 on two free throws by Neverson. CSUB went 2-for-11 from the field in the quarter, but made 11 of 13 free throws to take a 30-26 lead into halftime.
The 'Bows moved ahead in the third quarter with an eight-point run — with six coming from the free-throw line — before CSUB answered again and Marley Langi scored the final five points of the period to send the Roadrunners into the fourth with a 48-44 lead.
UH tied the game on a drive by
Jade Peacock and took a 52-50 lead on two free throws by Curtis at the 5:47 mark of the fourth quarter. A block by Peacock started a fast break and she dished to Tamilo for a layup to give UH a 56-52 lead.
CSUB stayed within striking distance and closed to 58-54 with 1:58 left. The UH defense protected the lead and Flavell's lone 3-pointer of the game all but sealed UH's 13
th consecutive win over the Roadrunners.
The Rainbow Wahine conclude their homestand on Saturday against CSUN at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
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