Enjoy. Just for today.

Celebrate. Just for today.

Come Monday, Hawaii will be back to work. Working to get better. Working on keeping the success going.

But until Monday’s practice rolls around, the Rainbow Wahine can ride the wave that has them atop the Big West women’s basketball standings.

All alone in first place.

"I’ve been here six years and I don’t know if we’ve ever been in first," said senior guard Shawna-Lei Kuehu, whose near-perfect shooting night and 22 points helped lead Hawaii to a 79-64 win over nemesis Cal Poly. "This was a huge win over a really tough team.

"It’s awesome and it’s great to be in first. But it makes that bull’s-eye on our backs even bigger now. We want to win the Big West."

But for the moment, Hawaii (15-7, 7-2) can savor having a one-game lead over three teams deadlocked in second. Thanks to UC Riverside’s big win over Long Beach State earlier Saturday, the Highlanders — who host the Wahine on Thursday — are at 6-3, along with the 49ers and the Mustangs.

A crowd of 1,246 shared in the several things that made it sweeter. Not only has Hawaii won seven consecutive games and 12 straight Big West home games dating back to last season, but the Rainbow Wahine beat Cal Poly (11-10, 6-3) for just the second time in 10 meetings.

"We did it with patience and composure," Hawaii coach Laura Beeman said. "We had not been playing our style of basketball and we’re starting to hit our stride.

"It’s nice to see, but we still have a long ways to go. What I enjoy seeing is how these guys play together, win for each other. You can see the love on the court."

It started with Kuehu, who had a career night by others’ standards in the first half. She scored more points (18) than minutes played off the bench (12), hitting eight of nine field goals and both free throws.

She finished 10-for-12 from the floor and 2-for-4 from the line, with three critical steals.

"Shawna was just being Shawna," said senior guard Ashleigh Karaitiana, who added 12 points despite being in foul trouble most of the game. "That’s what she does. Someone had to step up and it was her."

Junior guard Destiny King had 10 points, seven in the second half, including four crucial free throws in the final 1:46. Hawaii did not make a field goal after Brianna Harris’ 3-pointer gave the Wahine a 67-54 lead with 4:33 to go.

Hawaii’s defense came up big down the stretch, with senior guard Morgan Mason and Karaitiana logging late minutes with four fouls. Karaitiana played the last four minutes with four but didn’t foul out; Mason lasted until picking up her fifth at the 2:28 mark and the Wahine ahead 70-57.

The Mustangs had to settle for free throws for nearly seven minutes, going without a field goal from when Ariana Elegado scored at the 8:05 mark to Lynn Leaupepe’s bucket at 1:37. By then, the Wahine were up 75-60 and it was basically over.

Elegado finished with 20 points, Kristen Ale 18 and Taryn Garza 17 for Cal Poly. Garza added 10 rebounds for her sixth double-double this season and needs 26 to hit 500 for her career.

King just missed her third double-double of the year with nine boards as Hawaii, ranked No. 34 nationally in rebound margin, out-rebounded Cal Poly 43-34. The Wahine also had 14 assists to 13 turnovers.

Kuehu looked as if she would eclipse her career high of 29 points the way she was shooting in the opening 20 minutes. After she hit her first six shots from the floor, her seventh rimmed out, but Dalayna Sampton — recognizing her hot shooter — recycled the rebound out to Kuehu, who hit a short jumper.

It gave her 16 points and Hawaii a 35-27 lead with 1:43 left. Twenty-eight seconds later Kuehu stripped the ball from Elegado and sprinted down for a layup.

King’s lone basket of the half pushed Hawaii’s lead back to 10 with 23 seconds to go. Elegado beat the Wahine defense and the clock, her layup giving her 11 points and cutting the deficit to 39-31 at intermission.

Saturday

Hawaii 79, Cal Poly 64

UC Davis 79, UC Irvine 69

CSUN 82, CSU Fullerton 51

UC Riverside 80, Long Beach State 74

HAWAII 79, CAL POLY 64

Halftime — Hawaii 39, Cal Poly 31

3-point goals — Cal Poly 2-13 (Elegado 2-8, Lipton 0-1, Balbierz 0-1, Ale 0-2). Hawaii 6-17 (Wimbley 2-2, Karaitiana 2-4, Harris 1-2, Mason 1-5, Segovia 0-3, King 0-1). Steals — Cal Poly 4 (D. Leaupepe, L. Leaupepe 2, Garza). Hawaii 7 (Kuehu 3, Karaitiana, Mason, King, Huff). Turnovers — Cal Poly 10 (Elegdo 5, D. Leaupepe 2, Balbierz 2, Ale). Hawaii 13 (Mason 5, Karaitiana 3, Wimbley 2, Harris 2, Segovia). Assists — Cal Poly 4 (Elegado 3, Gilbert). Hawaii 14 (Mason 6, Karaitiana 2, King 2, Segovia, Morris, Harris, Kuehu). Blocked shots — Cal Poly 0. Hawaii 5 (Karaitiana 2, Morris 2, Kuehu). Technical fouls — Cal Poly none. Hawaii none. Officials — Charles Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Patrick Black-Santiago. A — 1,246.