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Mason leads Rainbow Wahine past Denver

Point guard Morgan Mason scored Hawaii’s final 12 points to finish with a career-high 23 and the Rainbow Wahine basketball team closed its season-opening road trip with a 60-58 win over Denver on Sunday.

With UH (2-0) trailing with less than five minutes left, Mason twice tied the game and gave UH the lead for good with a 3-pointer with 1:38 left. She went on to seal the win with three free throws and finished 8-for-10 from the line.

The senior also grabbed seven rebounds, including a key offensive rebound in the final minute, and dished out four assists.

Ashleigh Karaitiana added 12 points and six rebounds for the Wahine and Shawna-Lei Kuehu finished with seven points.

UH, which opened the road trip with an overtime win at Colorado State on Friday, got off to a quick start and led Denver 27-18 at halftime.

The Wahine maintained a lead until the Pioneers (0-1) went on a 7-0 run, closing to within a point on a 3-pointer by Jordan Johnston and taking their first lead at 49-48 on a Paige Bradley layup with 5:35 left.

Mason twice tied the game for the Wahine, first by hitting two free throws then making a layup to catch Denver at 54-54 with 2:29 left.

After a Denver turnover, Mason drained a 3-pointer to give UH the lead and Destiny King came up with a steal on the Pioneers’ next possession.

UH missed a 3-point attempt and fouled Alecia Espinoza, who made two free throws with 53 seconds left.

King then missed a shot and Mason secured the offensive rebound, and UH called time out with 27 seconds left. Mason went to the line and made both foul shots to extend the lead to 59-56.

Johnston drew a foul and made two free throws to cut the lead to one with 9 seconds left. But Mason then went back to the line and made one of two foul shots to provide the final margin.

UH opens the home schedule on Friday against California.

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