A sequence late in Friday’s women’s basketball matinee at the Stan Sheriff Center encapsulated Hawaii’s early-season frustration.

With the Rainbow Wahine chasing Portland by five with about five minutes left, UH’s press produced two steals by guard Tia Kanoa in a six-second span. The Wahine couldn’t convert on either, Portland answered with a three-point play and the Pilots finished off a 72-65 win on the opening day of the Bank of Hawaii Classic.

The Wahine created opportunities with 11 steals and 14 offensive rebounds only to see a close decision slip away for the fourth time in as many games.

“We don’t do a really good job right now of when we get a rebound we either turn it over or we don’t capitalize,” UH coach Laura Beeman said. “We have to capitalize on those second-chance opportunities.”

A gathering of 224 for the 2:30 p.m. tip-off watched the Wahine fall to 0-4 for the first time since the 2008-09 team started 0-6. UH’s next chance to pick up win No. 1 comes Sunday against Seattle (0-3) in another 2:30 start.

“We’re 0-4 right now. We’re going to be fine in my opinion, and in that locker room, that’s how they feel,” Beeman said. “We have to taste a victory, no doubt about it. But I’m not getting wrapped up in records right now. We have to get wrapped up in getting better.”

The Wahine lost their first two games by a single point and were coming off a 58-50 loss at San Diego on Sunday. Along with missed opportunities, Beeman pointed to the free-throw line as the difference in Friday’s defeat.

Portland (3-0) attempted 33 free throws, making 22, and went 13-for-17 in the fourth quarter to hold off UH’s comeback. UH attempted just three free throws in the first three quarters and finished 12-for-17 at the line.

“All across the board everything in this ballgame is equal … it comes down to the free-throw line,” Beeman said, “their aggressiveness and us just not moving our feet and putting them at the free-throw line.”

UH senior Leah Salanoa posted the first double-double of her career with 19 points (on 7-for-13 shooting) and 11 rebounds, four off the offensive glass. Forward Makenna Woodfolk scored eight of her 11 points in the fourth quarter. Julissa Tago scored all 10 of her points in a second-quarter outburst. Kanoa tied a career high with four steals.

“(Salanoa’s) bought into what we’ve asked her to do,” Beeman said of the 5-foot-10 forward. “The big area for Leah was that she had to really lock in for some of her boards and Leah did a phenomenal job tonight; 19 and 11, that’s a heck of game for an undersized post player against a very big team.”

UH took a 44-42 lead on a Salanoa layup with 2:52 left in the third period. But Portland responded with a 12-2 run bridging the quarter break and the Wahine went 5-for-18 from the field in the fourth.

Haylee Andrews and Darian Slaga both hit 3-pointers in Portland’s decisive burst and led the Pilots with 17 points each.

Arizona ran away from Seattle 84-54 in Friday’s opener. Arizona (2-1) and Portland meet for the tournament title at noon on Sunday.