LONG BEACH, CALIF. » This one was for Mia.

Moments after Hawaii pulled out a breakthrough 52-49 win over Long Beach State in the second round of the Big West tournament, the Rainbow Wahine dedicated the victory to their sidelined leader. Kamilah Jackson, UH’s leading scorer and rebounder for four years running, watched the tense contest unfold from the UH bench while out with a foot injury.

If Jackson were the recipient of a victory dedication, then point guard Morgan Mason was the deliverer at the Walter Pyramid. Mason’s key steal and free throws with 6.9 seconds left secured UH’s first conference tournament victory since the 2009 WAC play-in game, and first as a renewed Big West member.

"I’m proud of us," said Mason, a junior co-captain. "We all had the same goal of getting to the championship, but we’re still fighting for Mia. She hasn’t been able to play (seven straight) games and we see how hard it is for her to be on the sideline. For me, that’s one of my biggest motivations, additional to the championship, because she’s done a lot for us."

Third-seeded UH (17-12) matched last season’s overall win total and advanced to face nemesis Cal Poly, the No. 2 seed, in Friday’s semifinals at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The Wahine lost twice to the Mustangs this season by a total of six points.

The last time UH got to a league semifinal was in 2003, when it lost to Louisiana Tech.

A twist of fate had the Wahine, who wore white as the higher seed, playing on No. 6 LBSU’s home floor with the palm tree and sand motif. The presence of the UH band, cheerleaders and Rainbow Dancers made it about 100 pro-UH people in house, with perhaps double that for LBSU.

It was far from a day at The Beach, as the 49ers hammered the glass hard with Jackson out and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds. UH gave up a nine-point lead early in the second half, but it refused to falter like in its 15-point upset loss to Cal State Fullerton in its first Big West tournament game last season.

"I think we’re going to enjoy this. I think there is somewhat a monkey off our back," UH coach Laura Beeman said. "We’re going to come up with a great game plan (Thursday) and be ready for (Cal Poly) SLO."

She added, "I’m really proud of these young ladies to come and beat a team on their home court, their home crowd, in their home locker room. Sleeping in their beds. That was a tough, tough, insurmountable task. We had some hurdles we had to jump and we jumped them tonight."

The teams experienced 12 lead changes before it was decided. UH shot 32.1 percent, but two key statistics 7-for-14 on 3s and 11-for-12 on free throws kept the Wahine in it. LBSU (17-15), playing for the second straight night, was held to 28.3 percent shooting, including 4-for-24 (16.7 percent) on 3-pointers.

Junior wing Ashleigh Karaitiana came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points and grab eight rebounds. She sank four of five 3-point attempts.

"A big thing I’ve been focusing on is just my shooting and the girls got me the ball," Karaitiana said.

Jackson went up and down the UH bench high-fiving teammates after big baskets. And in this defensive struggle, every basket was big. UH improved to 5-2 without her this season.

"We prepared to beat Hawaii, with or without Kamilah Jackson," LBSU coach Jody Wynn said. "She’s a big part of their program, and is one of the greatest players to play at Hawaii. Even your opponent, it’s sad to see a great player be not able to suit up. And her team is rolling on for her and without her."

With UH getting victimized inside, Beeman went to seldom-used center Kalei Adolpho for big crunch-time minutes.

A seven-point UH halftime lead evaporated within the first six minutes of the second half as the 49ers used a 12-0 run to go up 33-30. UH opened the period shooting 1-for-11.

The Wahine weathered the run with breakaway hoops by Karaitiana and Shawna Kuehu, who finished with eight points, including the go-ahead free throws for a 50-49 lead with 1:41 left.

With UH clinging to a one-point lead with 27 seconds left, Mason hung back and watched LBSU’s play develop. The co-captain anticipated a move by 49ers forward Jade Wilson in the paint, then snatched the ball from Wilson and got fouled while trying to outlet the ball. The 80 percent foul shooter swished the first free throw, gathered herself when LBSU called timeout, then was perfect on the second for a three-point lead.

The 49ers called timeout again, but Hallie Meneses’ desperation 3 to tie was off the mark and time expired before The Beach got another look.

"Absolutely confident," Beeman said of Mason’s clutch finish. "That’s why you go get a JUCO kid. You get hopefully immediate composure, immediate leadership. Morgan has won two championships at Mt. San Antonio College she knows what it takes to win down the stretch and she’s been in those situations. I wouldn’t, couldn’t ask for anybody better to be at the free-throw line in that position."