USC turns back spirited Rainbow Wahine
USC turned back a spirited effort from the Hawaii women’s basketball team to claim the Rainbow Wahine Showdown title with a 71-60 win tonight at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Women of Troy (7-0) gave coach Mark Trakh his 400th career win behind a four-player scoring effort. Kristen Simon (25 points), Minyon Moore (20), Aliyah Mazyck (15) and Sadie Edwards (nine) accounted for all but one of USC’s points.
UH (4-3) was led by Lahni Salanoa, who scored a season-high 17. Point guard Tia Kanoa added 10 points and nine assists, but the Wahine dropped back-to-back games to end the tournament.
UH matched USC basket for basket for the first quarter and for a while in the second. But the Trojans closed the half on a 14-2 run, fueled by UH turnovers, and led 46-32 at intermission.
UH got within single digits with eight minutes left in the game but Simon converted a three-point play to extend it back to double figures the rest of the way.
The Wahine next host Montana State on Dec. 4.