When the going got tough, Hawaii got tougher. On the boards. Down the stretch.

The Rainbow Wahine maintained their one-game lead in the Big West women’s basketball standings by holding off UC Riverside 72-69 Thursday night in Riverside, Calif.

Led by a 47-25 rebound margin and a vocal boost from the Hawaii men’s volleyball team, Hawaii won its eighth straight.

Centers Connie Morris and Megan Huff each had 12 points and combined for 12 boards for the Rainbow Wahine (16-7, 8-2) over the Highlanders (15-9, 6-4) in front of 438 at the SRC Arena. It is Hawaii’s longest winning streak since the 2007-08 team also won eight in a row and it gave third-year coach Laura Beeman her 50th victory at UH.

"It was a great win against a very, very good team," Beeman said. "Credit our defense down the stretch and our volleyball team.

"My first tweet will be that the sixth man award goes to them. They were phenomenal, better than the (UCR) cheerleaders. We had a great crowd behind us tonight."

Beeman said she hopes to be able to reciprocate Friday when the Rainbow Warriors play at Cal Baptist, also located in Riverside. The Rainbow Wahine will be some 40 miles away practicing at Cal State Fullerton in preparation for Saturday’s game with the Titans and "we hope to practice a little earlier than scheduled so we can come back to support them," she said.

Hawaii fed off the crowd’s energy, turning a 34-31 halftime deficit into a 68-60 lead with 3:40 to go, helped by sophomore guard Bri Harris’ 11 second-half points. Shawna-Lei Kuehu’s layup made it 70-62 with 2:27 remaining but the Highlanders, who finished last in the Big West last season, wouldn’t go away.

UCR cut the margin to 70-69 on five free throws by sophomore guard Simone DeCoud and a jumper by freshman guard Michelle Curry.

As the Rainbow Wahine tried to run out the last 63 seconds, the Highlanders were forced to foul until they finally put Hawaii at the line with 11 seconds to go.

Kuehu hit both ends of the 1-and-1 and Curry’s desperation 3-point attempt failed, with Huff corraling the rebound.

"We knew it was going to be hard, away games are hard," said Harris, finishing with 11 second-half points, including three 3-pointers. "I was open on the perimeter because of my teammates, who were driving and then kicking it out to me.

"Eight in a row feels good but at the end of the day there’s more basketball to play. We have to continue to play Hawaii basketball."

Hawaii’s defense wore down UCR standout junior guard Brittany Crain, who came in averaging 23.7 points. Crain hit her first four shots in the opening eight minutes, and had 11 points at intermission.

The Rainbow Wahine contiued to rotate fresh pressure on Crain during the second half, holding her to five points in the last 20 minutes. She played the entire game, as did DeCoud, who finished with 22 points to tie her career high.

The loss snapped the Highlanders’ five-game winning streak.

Hawaii’s bench players outscored UCR’s 32-0, led by Huff and Harris.

The Rainbow Wahine’s depth also helped win the battle with the flu. Beeman said that Kuehu (8 points), senior guard Morgan Mason (8) and junior guard Destiny King (5) were all ill.

"But winning is better than Tamiflu," she said.

Hawaii’s height differential was key. UCR had no starters taller than 5-foot-11 while the Wahine could counter with the 6-4 Morris and 6-3 Huff.

"We were able to exploit those mismatches," Beeman said. "But it wasn’t only our ‘bigs’ getting it down on the boards. Our guards were getting it done, too."

Thursday

Hawaii 72, UC Riverside 69

UC Davis 75, CSU Fullerton 69, OT

CSUN 70, Cal Poly 58

Long Beach State 68, UC Santa Barbara 38

Saturday

Hawaii at CSU Fullerton, 4 p.m.

CSUN at UC Santa Barbara

Cal Poly at Long Beach State

UC Riverside at UC Irvine

Halftime — UC Riverside 34, Hawaii 31

3-point goals — Hawaii 6-14 (Harris 3-5, Karaitiana 2-3, Segovia 1-2, Kuehu 0-1, Mason 0-3). UC Riverside 6-17 (DeCoud 3-6, Crain 2-5, Curry 1-3, Adams 0-1, Ito 0-1, Martin 0-1). Steals — Hawaii 2 (King, Kuehu). UC Riverside 8 (Adams 2, Crain 2, Curry, DeCoud, Ito, Wilson). Turnovers — Hawaii 16 (Huff 3, Karaitiana 3, King 3, Kuehu 2, Mason 2, Morris, Segovia, Wimbley). UC Riverside 3 (Adams, Curry, Wilson). Assists — Hawaii 22 (Harris 5, Karaitiana 4, Mason 4, Kuehu 3, King 2, Morris, Segovia, Toeaina, Wimbley). UC Riverside 12 (Curry 5, Crain 2, DeCoud 2, Ito 2, Adams). Blocked shots — Hawaii 3 (Kuehu 2, Morris). UC Riverside 3 (Crain, Nyingifa, Wilson). Technical fouls — . Hawaii 1 (Segovia). Officials — Michael Price, Clifford Sims Sr., Brandon Self. A — 428.