For the second straight meeting, the Hawaii women’s basketball team battled Colorado State into overtime.

After falling to the Rams at home last year, the Rainbow Wahine returned the favor on Friday with a 63-58 season-opening road win in Fort Collins, Colo.

Senior Shawna-Lei Kuehu’s jumper with 2:12 left in overtime gave the Rainbow Wahine a 56-54 lead and they held off the Rams from there.

The Wahine delivered a dramatic win over a Colorado State team picked to win the Mountain West Conference, overcoming the altitude and erasing a seven-point deficit in the second half before pulling out the victory in overtime.

"These young ladies held their composure like no other," UH coach Laura Beeman said. "We had some crazy lineups on the floor, we had some youngsters on the floor in a very big game and they did a fantastic job."

Destiny King led three UH players in double figures with 14 points, including two free throws with 11 seconds left in overtime to put the game out of reach.

Kuehu finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds despite foul trouble. She picked up her fourth with 8:37 left in regulation, returned with four minutes left and contributed six points, two rebounds and a blocked shot in overtime.

"Honestly after playing this game we realize we have so much more to work on and grow and we have a high ceiling and we haven’t nearly reached it yet," Kuehu said.

Ashleigh Karaitiana, another senior, also scored 12 points and grabbed a key offensive rebound to set up King’s clinching free throws. Morgan Mason posted eight points and 10 rebounds. Her 3-pointer to beat the shot clock gave UH a four-point cushion with 1:09 left in overtime and another Kuehu jumper pushed the lead to six with 28 seconds left.

"That’s what you expect from returners," Beeman said. "You expect them in tight games to be on the floor to make big plays, to hold their composure.

"When it was time for the veterans to step up, they did."

CSU guard AJ Newton hit four 3-pointers and led the Rams with 16 points. Ellen Nystrom added 10. CSU shot just under 28 percent from the field.

The Wahine opened an early 10-point lead before the Rams closed to 29-28 at halftime. CSU began the second half with a 12-4 run and led 40-33 with 12:26 left.

The Wahine battled back and both teams had chances to win late in regulation.

The Rainbow Wahine continue their road trip with a game at Denver on Sunday.