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Struggling the entire game, Hawaii turned on its defensive pressure to pull away from Division II Brigham Young-Hawaii.
Kalei Adolpho scored 20 points and Sarah Toeaina added 16 as Hawaii beat BYUH 68-57 in an exhibition game on Thursday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The game, which didn’t affect either team’s record, was meant to break up a 16-day gap in Hawaii’s schedule. The Rainbow Wahine (4-5), playing with various lineups, were outshot from the field and couldn’t find a rhythm until the fourth quarter.
“Bottom line, we had to get some chemistry going tonight and we did not do a fantastic job doing that at times both offensively and defensively,” Hawaii coach Laura Beeman said. “But that’s kind of where we’re at right now, we’re struggling as a team.”
Celeste Claw scored 21 points and hit five 3-pointers for BYUH (3-2). BYUH shot 45 percent from the field to Hawaii’s 31.
Hawaii turned on the defensive pressure in the fourth. Hawaii double-teamed BYUH’s guards in the backcourt, forcing back-to-back turnovers and converting them into two layups for a 49-44 lead with 8:06 left. Destiny King converted a 3-point play off an Adolpho steal with seven minutes left and Marissa Wimbley hit a 3 to help Hawaii open a 58-48 lead with 6:06 remaining. Hawaii had six steals and forced 10 BYUH turnovers in the fourth. BYUH finished with 26 turnovers to Hawaii’s six.
“I needed to get us going, get some energy, playing a little frantic to see if we could turn them over, and we were able to score off those defensive turnovers,” Beeman said.
BYUH used a 12-0 run midway through the third quarter to lead 41-36. Karaitiana hit a 3-pointer and Toeaina’s baseline jumper tied it at 41 with 2:32 remaining. Hawaii made four of eight free throws to lead 45-41 after the third.
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