Junior center Connie Morris and freshman center Megan Huff each scored 12 points, and senior guard Shawna-Lei Kuehu hit two critical free throws with 11 seconds to go as Hawaii won its eighth straight, defeating UC Riverside 72-69 in a Big West women’s basketball game Thursday night in Riverside, Calif.

Sophomore guard Bri Harris added 11 points and senior guard Ashleigh Karaitiana 10 for the Rainbow Wahine (16-7, 8-2). Hawaii outrebounded UC Riverside (15-9, 6-4) 47-25.

Sophomore guard Simone DeCoud led the Highlanders (15-9, 6-4) with 22 points and guard Brittany Crain added 16.

The victory keeps Hawaii atop the Big West standings with a one-game lead over Long Beach State (20-4, 7-3) and UC Davis (12-10, 7-3). It is UH’s longest winning streak since the 2007-09 team also won eight in a row.

It also gave third-year Rainbow Wahine coach Laura Beeman her 50th win at UH.