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Rainbow Wahine get fourth win in 5 games

Brian McInnis

The Hawaii women’s basketball team rallied to defeat Cal Poly 66-57 tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.

UH (8-11, 4-3 Big West) won for the fourth time in five games, including its second win over the Mustangs (7-12, 3-4) in 10 days.

Sarah Toeaina led the way with 23 points on 7-for-10 shooting, Lahni Salanoa hit all six of her field-goal attempts for 16 points and Briana Harris added 16. Keleah-Aiko Koloi grabbed 11 rebounds.

The Mustangs led by nine to start the second behind center Hannah Gilbert (14 points), who hit six of her first nine shots. But she missed her next six.

UH countered with a 13-0 run to capture its first lead, holding the Mustangs scoreless for more than six minutes. CP erased a four-point deficit and the teams settled for a 26-all tie at halftime.

Salanoa hit her first field-goal attempt, a 3, in the third quarter for a 33-30 UH lead. She added two jumpers late in the period to push the advantage to 43-35. Salanoa hit a step-back 3 at the third-quarter buzzer, her fourth straight make, for a 48-37 lead.

Cal Poly opened the fourth quarter with consecutive baskets, but Toeaina answered with a fadeaway jumper.

Salanoa hit another shot from deep (making her 5-for-5) to push the lead back to double digits with 5:40 to play. Harris followed with a tough leaner for the biggest lead of the game.

Cal Poly’s Nikki Fausey hit two free throws, Dye Stahley stole the inbounds pass from Julissa Tago and Breezi Holt added two more at the line to get within eight. Salanoa ended the spurt with a layup (6-for-6) with 3:35 left.

The Mustangs took fouls, got Koloi to miss two free throws and drew within 59-55 on a Gilbert putback with 42.4 seconds left.

Olivia Crawford sank two from the line, Gilbert missed inside and Toeaina made two, extending the margin back to eight. Koloi and Crawford combined for three more foul makes to seal it.

UH continues play at UC Riverside on Thursday.

2 responses to “Rainbow Wahine get fourth win in 5 games”

  1. HOSSANA says:

    Coach Beeman always gets the most out of her players and its a joy to constantly read about the wahine winning their games. Unfortunately, I work at nites and am unable to attend any of the games but I got to tape this game and it was a joy to watch the resiliency and perseverance of this wahine basketball team. Wishing them the best as the season winds down…..I just hope we don’t lose Coach Beeman to a Pac 12 team that just might offer her double the salary she’s making as it would be a tremendous loss to the wahine basketball program.

  2. mctruck says:

    GO BOWAHINE!!

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