The Hawaii women’s basketball team gave a valiant effort but was not able to procure a road victory without its best player on Saturday, falling 56-52 at UC Davis.

UH (14-11, 8-5 Big West) dropped back to third place after playing without senior forward Kamilah Jackson. The team’s leading scorer and rebounder has been sidelined with a foot injury for three straight games, in which UH fell to 2-1.

The Rainbow Wahine went cold late in the second half and saw a six-point advantage disappear. Shawna Kuehu made a jumper with a minute left to get the Wahine within 52-49, but UCD’s Molly Greubel responded with a 3-pointer to push the lead to six.

Ashleigh Karaitiana made a 3 to get UH within 55-52 and the Wahine took a foul. Sydnee Fipps made one of two at the line for a four-point lead. 

UH called timeout, but turned it over and got no closer in the final seconds. In defeat, the visitors outrebounded the hosts 43-24 but turned it over seven more times.

Sophomore Destiny King scored 12 points and senior Shawna Kuehu added 10 to lead the Wahine. Junior center Kalei Adolpho snared a season-high 11 rebounds off the bench.

Davis (11-14, 6-6) got 22 points from Sydnee Fipps in its comeback victory.

Wahine backup point guard Marissa Wimbley hit a 3-pointer to send the teams into halftime tied at 23.