Hawaii rolls past Hawaii Pacific

Perhaps an easy victory Sunday can erase the “doubt” the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team had during a four-game losing streak.

Leah Salanoa scored a career-high 19 points, Sarah Toeaina added 15 and four teammates also reached double figures in Hawaii’s 88-54 victory over Division II Hawaii Pacific at the Stan Sheriff Center.

“Anytime you take four losses in a row you start to doubt yourself, you start to doubt what you’re doing,” Hawaii coach Laura Beeman said. “Not just the kids, but as coaches. We needed to have a really good, solid win over a good team.”

Lahni Salanoa, who missed the previous four games with an ankle injury, added 13 points, while Briana Harris and Olivia Crawford each added 12 and Makenna Woodfolk contributed 11 for the Rainbow Wahine (3-6).

“It’s all about trusting each other and playing together, finding everybody, making the right plays, making the right moves,” Salanoa said.

She also mentioned she had something to prove after missing time due to injury.

“Coming into this game I knew I had to come out and show I’m back and ready to play,” Salanoa said.

The Rainbow Wahine had lost their previous four games, including two against top-10 opponents, by an average of 25.3 points.

“We knew we were going to win this game. We knew we had to come out and win this game,” Leah Salanoa said.

Hawaii set season highs for points, margin of victory and made 3-pointers (12), and a season low for turnovers (12).

The Sharks went 11 minutes between field goals during one stretch and finished 14-for-58 from the field, including 3-for-24 from 3-point range.

“Defensively, it was our length and some of our physicality that got HPU,” Beeman said. “I don’t think our 1-on-1 defense was very good tonight.”

The Rainbow Wahine put the game away by outscoring the Sharks 27-10 in the second quarter to take a 41-23 advantage. Leah Salanoa scored eight points in the quarter, while Lahni Salanoa added seven. Both hit a pair of 3-pointers during the surge.

“We knew that we had to pick it up from the first quarter,” Lahni Salanoa said. “The first quarter kind of came off iffy. We knew we had to pick up our energy. We knew we were the better team so we had to play better than them and top their energy.”

HPU went 0-for-12 from the field in the second quarter, but finished 10-for-13 from the free-throw line.

Sharks center Aminata Cole picked up her second foul less than two minutes into the game and didn’t re-enter until late in the first half.

“It affects our team because she’s our Energizer bunny,” said HPU coach Reid Takatsuka. “She gets after loose balls, she’s a great rebounder, so it’s one of those things where you lose one of your energy players and it definitely affected us.”

Gabriella Fotu’s basket 26 seconds into the third quarter was HPU’s first field goal since Breanna Mackenzie hit a shot with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

VeAnne Navarro scored 12 points for the Sharks, who remain at 4-2 since the result doesn’t count toward their overall record.

“It’s a great opportunity for our program,” Takatsuka said of playing the Rainbow Wahine. “We’re a small school and any time Coach Beeman gives us that opportunity it’s a nice experience for our kids.”

Hawaii freshman guard Courtney Middap saw her first action of the season after missing time with a knee injury. She finished with three points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.