The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team secured a 61-47 Big West win over UC Riverside on Thursday in their first game of 2025 at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
After trailing early in the game, the Rainbow Wahine (8-6, 2-2 Big West) rallied with a strong second quarter, outscoring the Highlanders 22-8. Hawai’i extended its lead to as much as 22 points in the fourth quarter, opening a two-game homestand with a dominant performance.
Center Brooklyn Rewers tied her career high with three 3-pointers, finishing with a game-high 15 points off the bench. This marked her fifth double-digit performance in the last six games. MeiLani McBee also made an impact, hitting four 3-pointers to tie her season high, finishing with 14 points.
Lily Wahinekapu contributed 10 points, five assists, and three steals, while Jovi Lefotu added seven points on 3-for-4 shooting along with five rebounds.
The Rainbow Wahine controlled the rebounding battle, holding a 40-28 advantage. Guard Mia ‘Uhila led the team with nine rebounds off the bench.
UC Riverside (7-8, 3-2 Big West) had a strong start, shooting 5-for-9 overall and 3-for-3 from 3-point range in the first quarter. They led 15-10 at the end of the first 10 minutes. However, the ‘Bows limited the Highlanders to just 29% shooting in the remaining three quarters. UC Riverside finished the game with a shooting percentage of 33.3%, marking the 10th time this season Hawai’i has held an opponent under 40%.
UC Riverside’s early shooting spurred them to a 15-8 lead after a 7-0 run in the first quarter. Rewers scored the final basket of the period, and UH responded by opening the second quarter with an 8-0 run. Jade Peacock’s 3-pointer tied the game, and a corner 3 from Wahinekapu gave Hawai’i the lead.
The ‘Bows extended their run to 15-2, with Lefotu driving for a score, and led 28-17 after McBee’s catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. Hawai’i made six 3-pointers in the first half and went into the locker room with a 32-23 lead.
McBee’s third 3-pointer early in the third quarter sparked a 7-0 run, pushing the Hawai’i lead to 16. The ‘Bows kept the advantage going into the fourth quarter and reached their largest lead of the night, 58-36, on Rewers’ third 3-pointer.
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