Phillips’ career-high pushes first-place Hawai’i by Long Beach State, 80-68

LONG BEACH, CA – Daejah doing Daejah things. 

The Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine kept sole possession atop the Big West Saturday afternoon, using a career-high 29 points from junior guard Daejah Phillips to take down Long Beach State on the road with a wire-to-wire win, 80-68. The 80 points are a season-best for UH, surpassing the 73 points scored against San Jose State back on December 3. 

Hawai’i jumped out to an early 10-2 advantage behind back-to-back 3-pointers from MeiLani McBee and Imani Perez. The triple from McBee was the Kennewick, Washington native’s 142nd career 3-pointer, tying the junior with Ashleigh Karaitiana (‘13 – ‘16) for third-most in UH program history. The Rainbow Wahine carried the 8-point cushion through the opening quarter, holding LBSU to 17% shooting across 18 attempts from the floor to take a 19-11 lead into the second frame. 

Long Beach State opened the scoring in the 2nd quarter with a Cheyenne Givens pull-up before McBee answered with a 3-pointer on the other end to give her sole possession of third place amongst long-distance shooters in Hawai’i history. The Beach pulled within four with a 7-2 run over the following two and a half minutes to force a timeout from Laura Beeman’s ‘Bows. 

The break in the action helped UH get back on track, trading baskets with the Beach before Imani Perez’s back-to-back buckets pushed the lead back up to seven just ahead of halftime, 35-28. 

Hawai’i blasted out of the locker rooms with 7 of the first 10 points of the second half to go up double digits for the first time since late in the 1st quarter, but Savannah Tucker hit a three on the other end with 6:43 left in the third to quickly pull LBSU back within eight. 

Then, Daejah was Daejah, again. 

The junior guard ripped off six of UH’s final 11 points in the quarter including back-to-back finishes out of the media timeout as Hawai’i carried a 12-point advantage into the final frame. 

Phillips continued her onslaught, assisting Jacque David for a score to open the 4th quarter before dropping through an and-one to match the Rainbow Wahine’s largest lead to that point at 15 less than a minute into play resuming. Despite a quick LBSU timeout to try and slow Phillips and Hawai’i’s momentum, the stud guard rattled off 13 of UH’s final 20 points as the Rainbow Wahine cruised to an 80-68 victory to reclaim the top of the Big West totem pole. 

Long Beach State was led by Cheyenne Givens’ 14 points off the bench as five different players finished in double digits for the hosting Beach, including three with 12 points apiece. LBSU’s defense was able to force 19 turnovers but only produced 14 points from the UH giveaways. 

Hawai’i was paced by Phillips’ career-best 29 points on 12-of-14 shooting, doing it in just 19 minutes and 41 seconds of action. The junior now has 1,041 points, good enough for 21st-most in UH Rainbow Wahine history. MeiLani McBee finished the night with nine points and seven boards. 

Hawai’i forward Imani Perez chipped in 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the victory. The sophomore exited with an injury with 3:04 left to play and did not return. 

Laura Beeman’s squad returns to action on Thursday, February 29 to play host to UC Davis, one of just three Big West teams to beat the Rainbow Wahine this season. The Aggies were 61-51 winners over Hawai’i back on February 10.