14-03-2025
Hawaii's comeback falls short in Big West Conference Semifinals
After a week of waiting, the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine basketball team finally hit the floor on Friday for their first game in the Big West Conference Tournament.
Hawaii who is the 1-seed in the Big West Tournament matched up with 4-seed UC San Diego in the Semifinals.
In their previous 2 meetings, UH won both (65-63, 49-44).
During the 1st quarter of Friday's Semifinal, UC San Diego got off to a quick 5-0 lead after UH started 0-6 from the field.
Lily Wahinekapu got the Rainbow Wahine on the board, while scoring Hawaii's first 4 points. But UH still trailed 11-4 with 3:30 left in the 1st quarter.
At the end of the 1st quarter, Hawaii found themselves trailing 22-4 after shooting a low 11.8% from the field on 2-17 FG and 0-8 from 3pt range.
UC San Diego was red hot as they shot over 55% from the field in the 1st quarter to take a commanding lead.
In the 2nd quarter, the Tritons pushed the lead to 27 points.
At halftime, Hawaii trailed 41-18 after UC San Diego shot 48% from the field, while UH shot only 17%.
In that first half, UC San Diego's Montgomery and Sugapong combined for 27 points for the Tritons.
Hawaii did not make their 1st 3-pointer until under a minute remaining in the half (1-15 in 1st half from 3).
The Rainbow Wahine went into the half with a lot to figure out as the Tritons controlled every aspect of the game in the 1st half.
To start the 3rd quarter, Hawaii starting off with a 5-0 run to bring the deficit back below 20 points.
Going into the 4th quarter, Hawaii trailed 47-29, UH did hold UC San Diego to a low 6 points in the 3rd quarter but offensively only able to score 11 points of their own.
The Rainbow Wahine continued to battle in the 2nd half as they cut the lead down to only 11 points with 5:55 remaining in the game.
With under 4 minutes remaining, Hawaii pulling within 5-points after a 13-0 run to start the 4th quarter.
Brooklyn Rewers brought the Rainbow Wahine within 1 possession after knocking down 2 Free Throws with just 2:26 remaining.
Hawaii tied the game up at 49 from a Rewers And-1 with under 1:30 to play.
UC San Diego's Sugapong made a tough 1 handed lay-up over tight UH defense to put the Tritons up 51-49 with only 0.2 seconds on the clock.
The Rainbow Wahine fall 51-49 and their Big West Conference Tournament ends in the Semifinals.
FINAL STATS:
Wahinekapu: 12 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast
Rewers: 10 pts
Hawaii's season is not over yet, as they did earn a WBIT bid after winning the Big West Regular Season crown.
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