The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team:
HONOLULU — The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team battled valiantly but ultimately fell to the Washington Huskies, 58-41, in the championship game of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Sunday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
Rainbow Wahine Hang Tough with Huskies
The Rainbow Wahine (2-5) trailed by just two points at halftime and were within three points with three minutes left in the third quarter before the Huskies (7-0) pulled away for the victory.
McBee Leads UH with 12 Points
UH guard MeiLani McBee kept the Rainbow Wahine in the game with a team-high 12 points, including four 3-pointers. Guard Lily Wahinekapu added nine points and guard Olivia Davies hit two 3-pointers for seven points off the bench.
Huskies Rely on Balanced Scoring
Washington’s offense was led by Dalayah Daniels, who scored 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting. Sayvia Sellers added 10 points for the Huskies.
Washington Shoots Efficiently
Washington, which entered the game averaging 80 points per game, shot 46% from the field overall and went 8-for-13 (61.5%) from 3-point range in the third quarter.
UH Relies on 3-Pointers
UH’s offense was heavily reliant on the 3-pointer, making eight of 13 attempts from beyond the arc. The Rainbow Wahine attempted 32 3-pointers in the game.
McBee Gets UH Off to Quick Start
McBee opened the scoring with two 3-pointers and UH led 6-2 early in the game. Washington responded with two 3-pointers of its own to take the lead, but Wahinekapu hit a 3-pointer to put UH back in front.
Huskies Take Control in Second Quarter
Washington led by as many as eight points in the second quarter and took a 25-23 lead into the half.
UH Makes a Run in Third Quarter
UH tied the game at 31-31 early in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Davies. However, Washington closed the quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 43-33 lead into the fourth quarter.
Huskies Cruise to Victory in Fourth Quarter
Washington outscored UH 15-8 in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
UH to Host San Jose State on Dec. 3
The Rainbow Wahine will close a six-game homestand on Dec. 3 against San Jose State in the first game of a doubleheader at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine and Spartans meet at 2 p.m., with UH’s men’s basketball team facing Central Arkansas at 5 p.m.
Rainbow Wahine Show Resilience in Loss to Washington
The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team may have fallen to the Washington Huskies in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown championship game, but the Rainbow Wahine showed plenty of resilience in the defeat.
Despite trailing by as many as eight points in the second quarter, the Rainbow Wahine battled back to tie the game at 31-31 early in the third quarter. UH’s guard duo of MeiLani McBee and Lily Wahinekapu were instrumental in keeping the Rainbow Wahine in the game. McBee, who finished with a team-high 12 points, knocked down four 3-pointers, while Wahinekapu added nine points of her own.
However, the Huskies proved to be too much for the Rainbow Wahine in the end, outscoring UH 25-10 in the final two quarters to secure the victory. Washington’s balanced offense was led by Dalayah Daniels, who scored a game-high 19 points. Sayvia Sellers added 10 points for the Huskies.
Despite the loss, there were plenty of positives for the Rainbow Wahine to take away from the game. UH showed that it can compete with some of the top teams in the country, and the Rainbow Wahine’s young players gained valuable experience in a pressure-packed situation.
McBee Shines in Rainbow Wahine Showdown
UH guard MeiLani McBee was one of the bright spots for the Rainbow Wahine in the Rainbow Wahine Showdown. McBee, a sophomore, averaged 12.0 points per game in the three-game tournament, including a game-high 12 points in the championship game against Washington.
McBee’s ability to knock down 3-pointers was a key factor in UH’s success in the tournament. The sophomore made 10-of-22 3-pointers in the three games.
Wahinekapu Provides Veteran Leadership
While UH has a number of talented young players, the Rainbow Wahine are also fortunate to have a veteran leader like Lily Wahinekapu. Wahinekapu, a senior, averaged 8.3 points per game in the tournament and provided a calming presence on the court.
Wahinekapu’s experience was invaluable to the Rainbow Wahine, especially in the close loss to Washington. The senior guard made a number of clutch plays down the stretch, including a 3-pointer that tied the game at 31-31 in the third quarter.
Rainbow Wahine Look Ahead to San Jose State
The Rainbow Wahine will close out a six-game homestand on Dec. 3 against San Jose State. The game will be the first of a doubleheader at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, with the UH men’s basketball team taking on Central Arkansas at 5 p.m.
San Jose State is currently 2-6 on the season, but the Spartans have played a tough schedule. UH will need to be at its best to defeat the Spartans.
The Rainbow Wahine are hoping to carry over the momentum they gained from the Rainbow Wahine Showdown into the game against San Jose State. UH showed that it can compete with some of the top teams in the country, and the Rainbow Wahine are confident that they can defeat the Spartans.
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