Despite keeping the contest close in spurts, the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team ultimately lost 70-49 to No. 1 UCLA on Sunday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawaii fell to 5-2, while UCLA remained unblemished at 8-0.
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UCLA jumped out to a 7-0 run to start the game and led 18-7 at the end of the first quarter. A pair of Hawaii 3-pointers in the final minute of the second quarter cut UCLA’s lead to 32-29 at halftime.
A Daejah Phillips layup cut UCLA’s lead to one to begin the third quarter. The Rainbow Wahine had multiple chances to take its first lead of the game but never capitalized as UCLA pulled away.
Lily Wahinekapu had a team-high 10 points and four rebounds for the Rainbow Wahine, while Kelsie Imai sparked the crowd of 1,669 with four points, three rebounds and three assists.
For UCLA, Kiki Rice had a game-high 21 points on an efficient 7-for-10 performance, while American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown MVP Lauren Betts added 18 points and three rebounds.