Mason carries Wahine to first 2-0 start since ’02

Although scoring was Morgan Mason’s secondary priority, she became Hawaii’s primary option when the Rainbow Wahine needed a lift.

The senior point guard scored UH’s final 12 points and finished with a career-high 23 and the Rainbow Wahine basketball team capped its season-opening road trip with a 60-58 win over Denver on Sunday at Magness Arena.

"It was more trying to find the open players to get them the ball," Mason said. "After I caught it, it just so happened I was open most of the time, so I was able to shoot."

With UH trailing with less than five minutes left, Mason twice tied the game and gave UH the lead for good with a 3-pointer with 1:38 left. She went on to seal the win with three free throws in the final minute and finished 8-for-10 from the line and the Wahine opened the season with two road wins for the first time in the program’s history and improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Mason set a career best with three 3-pointers, grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, including a key offensive board with UH protecting a one-point lead in the final minute, and dished out four assists.

"She took care of the ball, she defended, got to the basket, she did everything and more than we could have asked for as a coaching staff," UH coach Laura Beeman said. "All the around, she just played fantastic."

Senior Ashleigh Karaitiana added 12 points and six rebounds for the Wahine. Shawna-Lei Kuehu finished with seven points and the Wahine pulled out another close win two days after edging Colorado State in an overtime win at Colorado State.

The Wahine led 27-18 at halftime, fell behind when the Pioneers (0-1) went on a 7-0 run in the second half and battled back led by Mason’s surge.

"We knew as a coaching staff this game was going to be a grind," Beeman said. "We knew in the second half they were going to hit shots and we were going to have to really play and really execute.

"We learned some great lessons this road trip and it’s going to pay off for us as we hit some really tough teams the next two weeks."

Paige Bradley led three Denver players in double figures with 18 points.

The Rainbow Wahine make their home debut in the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic starting Friday at the Stan Sheriff Center. The Wahine face California on Friday and UNLV on Sunday.

HAWAII 60, DENVER 58

RAINBOW WAHINE (2-0)

DENVER (0-1)

Halftime — Hawaii 27, Denver 18
3-point goals — Hawaii 5-16 (Mason 3-6, Karaitiana 2-6, Segovia 0-1, Wimbley 0-3). Denver 6-20 (Bradley 3-5, Johnston 2-7, Espinoza 1-1, Poss 0-2, Van Riper-Rose 0-5). Steals — Hawaii 9 (Karaitiana 4, Kuehu 2, King, Mason, Segovia).?Denver 6 (Espinoza 2, Van Riper-Rose 2, Bradley, Johnston). Turnovers — Hawaii 15 (Sampton 3, Kuehu 2, Mason 2, Morris 2, Toeaina 2, Karaitiana, King, Segovia, Wimbley). Denver 20 (Bradlley 4, Morgan 4, Alt 3, Espinoza 2, Johnston 2, Poss 2, Van Riper-Rose 2, Bryant). Assists — Hawaii 13 (Mason 4, Kuehu 3, King 2, Segovia 2, Karaitiana, Wimbley). Denver 9 (Alt 2, Bradley 2, Poss 2, Van Riper-Rose 2, Johnston). Blocked shots — Hawaii 3 (Kuehu 2, Karaitiana). Denver 4 (Alt, Bradley, Johnston, Morgan). Officials — Randy Campbell, Marty Cook, Katie Reese. A — 479.