The streak of storybook senior nights couldn’t last forever.
Hawaii rallied from an early hole, then fell behind for good in a 67-61 loss to Cal Poly on Saturday, snapping a nine-year Rainbow Wahine run of wins in home finales.
Lone outgoing senior Sarah Toeaina scored 19 points on 13-for-19 free-throw shooting, and her teammates and the crowd of 1,166 tried to rally the four-year guard to a win on her way out of the Stan Sheriff Center, but UH (12-17, 5-11 Big West) finished in eighth place in the conference.
Toeaina (1,180 points) went from 14th to 11th on UH’s career scoring list in one night, passing Ashleigh Karaitiana, Kaui Wakita and Kim Everett.
“It’s really emotional. Although we wanted a win, the crowd and my family made it feel like we won, like we won the tournament tonight,” said Toeaina, of Covington, Wash. “I absolutely love Hawaii and I can’t explain how much tonight meant to me, and just the overall support it’s given me. It’s truly been a blessing.”
UH’s best-case scenario at tip-off time was the seventh seed, as both UC Riverside and Long Beach State won their games earlier in the day and finished 6-10. Instead, the Wahine face fifth-place Cal State Northridge in the first round of the Big West tournament on Tuesday at Cal State Fullerton.
Since 2009, when Jim Bolla was the coach, the Wahine pulled out miracles on senior nights, sometimes coming back from big deficits to win. It seemed possible again Saturday, with UH hanging within a few points in the final minutes.
Cal Poly guard Dynn Leaupepe made sure that wouldn’t happen this time. She scored 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting, and hit four free throws in the final 20 seconds to keep the Wahine at bay as the Mustangs (17-11, 11-5) claimed second place and a double-bye into the tournament semis.
“I thought we were going to win the game,” said a disappointed Laura Beeman. “We gave up a really big offensive board, that if we get that board, come down and (score), we still have time. … I thought we were in that game until the horn went off.”
The Rainbow Wahine rallied from an early 16-point deficit induced by turnovers — they trailed 19-3, then 21-8 at the end of a quarter — to tie it at 31 at halftime. They briefly took a third-quarter lead before Cal Poly went into the fourth up 50-47.
“That first quarter got us,” Beeman said. “I thought our second quarter was great. We made a comeback against a very, very good team in our conference. They’re second place for a reason. So, we gotta get to the tournament and shake this one off. Hopefully we have four games in the tournament. That’s the goal.”
Freshman guard Jadynn Alexander helped spark the Wahine back into the game with defense, and tied her season best of six points. Kenna Woodfolk had nine points and 12 rebounds and Julissa Tago and Tia Kanoa each scored eight. Kanoa’s 3 with 18 seconds left gave UH its last life at 64-61.
The team’s top shooter, Lahni Salanoa, couldn’t find her stroke all night, going 2-for-13 from the field, including 0-for-9 on 3s.
“We all played for (Toeaina). I mean, she’s an amazing person and I feel like we really gave it our all for her,” Alexander said.
Toeaina’s family performed a song, then she received a boost for a senior dunk (good on the third try). Then, with lei piled up to her eyebrows, she performed a traditional dance.
