Kamilah Jackson and Kalei Adolpho discovered the beginnings of an effective post partnership.
Jackson, a sophomore, and Adolpho, a true freshman, crushed Denver on the interior in the second half of an impressive 78-64 Hawaii win on the second night of the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Shootout.
A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 533 saw UH (4-7) earn a legitimate three-game winning streak with a victory over a winning team for the second straight night.
The Wahine can claim the tournament title today with a win over UC Davis (7-4), losers to Portland State in Monday’s first game. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Jackson had 20 points and 10 rebounds for her fourth straight double-double, and Adolpho, with 14 points and 15 boards off the bench, notched the first of her college basketball career.
"It’s definitely great knowing somebody else can get a rebound," Jackson said with a laugh. "She’s been great."
Three other Wahine — Kanisha Bello (14), Vicky Tagalicod (11) and Alissa Campanero (11) — scored in double figures as UH outscored Denver 49-32 in the second period behind 64 percent shooting, compared to 36.7 percent in the first half.
Denver (8-5) of the Sun Belt Conference fueled its offense through Kaetlyn Murdoch (season-high 30 points), leading to an early 11-point lead. But the senior forward got little help as UH locked up the Pioneers’ perimeter threats after halftime.
At the other end, Jackson and Adolpho were just getting started. Behind the young posts, UH won the rebounding battle 47-30, offsetting a 20-11 disparity in turnovers.
Jackson built off her dominant first night of the tournament (22 and 19 points), weaving effectively through the paint with Adolpho drawing equal attention. Adolpho twice found Jackson for baskets inside.
"Kamilah’s a great player and she’s shown herself in all the games previous," Adolpho said. "I just have so much confidence in her and that’s really my first option when I get in a rut, to look for her on the high-low or low-high, knowing that she can do her business."
It was just the second college hoops game for the 6-foot-1 Molokai graduate, who is also a reserve middle on the UH volleyball team.
HAWAII 78, DENVER 64
PIONEERS (8-5)
| |
fg-a |
ft-a |
rb |
pf |
pts |
a |
to |
min |
| Michel |
2-9 |
0-0 |
8 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
28 |
| Murdoch |
12-22 |
6-7 |
3 |
4 |
30 |
2 |
2 |
37 |
| Noonan |
0-1 |
0-0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
10 |
| Smith |
1-7 |
2-4 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
37 |
| Shell |
2-6 |
2-2 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
| Van Riper-Rose |
3-12 |
0-0 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
37 |
| Johnston |
3-7 |
0-0 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
4 |
2 |
29 |
| Powell |
1-1 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
| Janecek |
0-2 |
0-0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| TEAM |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
1 |
| Totals |
24-67 |
10-13 |
30 |
19 |
64 |
15 |
11 |
200 |
RAINBOW WAHINE (4-7)
| |
fg-a |
ft-a |
rb |
pf |
pts |
a |
to |
min |
| Jackson |
7-12 |
6-9 |
10 |
0 |
20 |
3 |
3 |
37 |
| Arbuckle |
1-4 |
3-7 |
5 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
30 |
| Tagalicod |
4-10 |
2-4 |
7 |
5 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
31 |
| Campanero |
3-7 |
3-6 |
3 |
1 |
11 |
4 |
6 |
36 |
| Bello |
6-9 |
0-1 |
3 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
2 |
31 |
| Dew |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| Gaddis |
1-1 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| Adolpho |
5-12 |
4-4 |
15 |
4 |
14 |
2 |
2 |
26 |
| TEAM |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
1 |
Totals 27-55 18-31 47 12 78 11 20 200
Key — fg-a: field goals made-attempted; ft-a: free throws made-attempted; rb: rebounds; pf: personal fouls; pts: total points; a: assists; to: turnovers; min: minutes played.
Halftime — Denver 32, Hawaii 29
3-points goals — DU 6-18 (Van Riper-Rose 3-9, Johnston 2-2, Smith 1-6, Shell 0-1). Hawaii 6-14 (Bello 2-4, Campanero 2-5, Gaddis 1-1, Tagalicod 1-3, Adolpho 0-1). Steals — DU 10 (Smith 6, Murdoch, Noonan, Shell, Johnston). Hawaii 5 (Jackson 2, Tagalicod, Campanero, Bello). Blocked shots — DU 3 (Murdoch 3). Hawaii 3 (Arbuckle 2, Adolpho). Officials — Shelley Nakasone, Kirk Hottendorf, Brian Yamasaki. A — 533.
