The comeback effort was impressive, if all for naught.

In improbable fashion, the Hawaii women’s basketball team threatened to end Utah’s unbeaten start to the season. The Rainbow Wahine trailed by 15 points with 2:26 to play, then rallied furiously for a chance to win in the final seconds.

Destiny King’s running 3-point attempt from just inside halfcourt at the buzzer was blocked and the Utes held on for a 62-61 win at the Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday afternoon.

The incredible chance UH gave itself with the timely 16-2 run only served to show first-year coach Laura Beeman what her team is capable of when motivated. UH (2-6) outscored Utah (7-0) 43-28 after the break.

"Second half is the team I want to continue to see. The second half is the team that we have to become," Beeman said.

After UH cut into the gap considerably with some fullcourt pressure, Vicky Tagalicod hit a top-arc 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left to make it a one-point game. UH fouled and Michelle Plouffe missed the front end of the 1-and-1. King grabbed the rebound and raced upcourt, but the Utah defense converged on her as time expired.

Kamilah Martin scored 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead UH. She moved past Christen Roper for fifth in boards in the program’s record book with 729.

"We knew we could play with them," Martin said. "We know if we execute, we’re going to get something good out of it. At the end of the day , it comes down to execution."

Kalani graduate Iwalani Rodrigues, a Utes senior, had a few dozen supporters among the crowd of 352. Her homecoming was a successful one, if a little tense down the stretch. She scored 13 points on 4-for-14 shooting.

"I felt my nerves rushing throughout the whole game," Rodrigues said. "But it was fun, it was a nice win for us. They came out to play, harder than us, I feel like … in the second half.

"It’s fun to play in front of my family. I wish I could have given them a better show."