Wahine seniors come through

Hawaii has been tested — and passed — without its best player over the past two weeks.

On senior night, the Rainbow Wahine had to close out UC Santa Barbara without their best two.

Shawna Kuehu bruised her left knee and took a seat next to the injured Kamilah Jackson on the UH bench 13 minutes into the game, but the Wahine got a career-best 17 points from senior Diane Moore and double-figure scoring from three others in a 73-60 defeat of UC Santa Barbara on Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"I don’t think anyone was expecting it. I wasn’t expecting it," said a muffled Moore, speaking through a stack of lei handed out during UH’s traditional senior ceremonies. "Out with a bang! It was great, we all played good basketball. It wasn’t just me. … I just happened to be open."

Fellow seniors Sydney Haydel, Pua Kailiawa and Jackson were also honored.

UH has shuffled rotation players out of necessity late in the season, and it’s only seemed to make the Wahine better. The same was true in front of a season-high crowd of 1,243 in the final home game of 2013-14.

The Wahine (16-11, 10-5 Big West) improved to 4-1 without their top scorer and rebounder in Jackson, who is resting up for next week’s Big West tournament. Laura Beeman’s team is now one victory from matching last season’s 17, which resulted in a WNIT appearance.

Ashleigh Karaitiana and Morgan Mason combined for 33 points off the bench to help secure the sixth straight win on senior night for the Wahine, who remained in the hunt for the Big West No. 2 seed. They must win at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday and require Cal Poly to lose at UCSB (8-20, 3-12).

Moore, whose previous best was 10 from last season, shot 8-for-10 and helped secure the victory with two baskets inside in the final minutes.

"That’s what tonight is about, is these seniors giving it all and having a memory, and she sure made a great one tonight," UH coach Laura Beeman said.

The Nagoya, Japan, native exited with her fellow seniors in the game’s final seconds, dipping her head in her customary bow to the court. About the only thing that didn’t go right on her special night was her corner 3-point attempts for her final senior shot; she settled for a layup.

Moore and and fellow seniors Haydel and Kailiawa got starting nods. Jackson watched from the sidelines, her right foot in a boot.

UH’s second member of the 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound club still got her moment, accompanied by her family from the Bay Area.

"Just to finally get your time, it’s always great," Jackson said. "I held back my tears to the last second, but it’s always emotional. It’s just great to go out with people you came in with."

Haydel, another four-year player, dedicated the win to Jackson.

"It’s great to have this winning streak on senior night," Haydel said. "It’s amazing we can keep it going, even without Mia. Everyone stepped up and played tremendous minutes. We played in honor of her."

UH led throughout but had to fend off some late pushes by the Gauchos. Mason connected on a 3 from the right wing and got fouled. She completed the four-point play for a 45-31 lead with 14:20 to go.

UH had some trouble late in the game dealing with ball pressure by the Gauchos as a 16-point lead was trimmed to seven on two foul shots by Melissa Zornig with 3:34 left.

Moore scored twice inside to extend the lead back to 12 and the game was safe from there.

Zornig kept sinking shots and finished with a career-best 28.

After UCSB tied the game at 13 and Beeman called for time, UH went on an 11-0 run and carried a 35-21 lead into the break.

At halftime, UH had more offensive rebounds (11) than UCSB had total boards (10).

Kuehu is a fifth-year senior, but she was not honored during Thursday’s ceremonies because she is petitioning the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility and UH is reasonably confident she will receive it.

BIG WEST WOMEN

Thursday
Hawaii 73, UC Santa Barbara 60
UC Irvine 78, Cal State Fullerton 72
Cal State Northridge 52, Long Beach State 49
UC Davis 78, UC Riverside 52

Saturday Hawaii at Cal State Fullerton
Cal Poly at UC Santa Barbara
UC Irvine at UC Davis
Long Beach State at UC Riverside

HAWAII 73, UC SANTA BARBARA 60

GAUCHOS (8-20, 5-11 BIG WEST)

RAINBOW WAHINE (16-11, 10-5 BIG WEST)