Hawaii started slowly, but took control with a big rally midway through the first half and beat NAIA Hope International 86-49 in a women’s basketball game today at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Wahine improved to 6-5 while the Royals fell to 10-3. Kasey Neubert led UH’s season-high scoring output with 22 points, and Myrrah Joseph added 15. Julissa Tago contributed 10 points, and Courtney Middap dished out 10 assists.

The visiting Royals jumped to a 10-6 lead as Dakota Viena scored five of her 22 points that matched Neubert for game-high. But then the Rainbow Wahine scored 16 unanswered points to build a 22-10 lead; Hope went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal.

The Wahine lead 38-26 at halftime and expanded the margin to 63-42 after three quarters.

Nae Nae Calhoun and Amy Atwell — who had both started all 10 of UH’s previous games — did not play, as they rested nagging injuries.

Viena, Rhianne Omori and Ysabelle Halemano all played for Maryknoll, the three-time Hawaii high school state tournament runner-up (2016-18). Omori scored seven points and led the Royals with five rebounds and three assists.