UH-Mānoa shows off depth in rare Big Island exhibition against Hawai’i-Hilo

HILO – That’s a wrap. 

The Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine basketball team treated more than a thousand fans on Big Island to a first glimpse of the 2024-25 roster on Sunday, defeating the University of Hawai’i-Hilo Vulcans 69-50 behind a balanced effort. Brooklyn Rewers led the way with 13 points in 11 minutes for UHM, who saw 11 different players play 10 minutes or more in the season-opening exhibition. 

“Bottom line is trying to figure out chemistry right now,” Rainbow Wahine head coach Laura Beeman said after the win. “We’re going to have depth … Everyone works, everyone gets on the floor, and they make the most of their minutes, then they sit because they need a breather and then we just keep it rolling.” 

The matchup between UH-Mānoa and Hawai’i-Hilo brought a fun, busy weekend of basketball to a close on the Big Island after the men’s programs faced off in a Friday exhibition and all four programs put on free keiki clinics on Saturday at Pana’ewa Park Gym. The trip to Hilo was a special one for UH-Mānoa, who had not brought the Rainbow Wahine over to play in Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium since 2010 when they hosted the Chevron Rainbow Wahine Classic. 

“Playing against someone else was fantastic,” Beeman said about Sunday. “But I think playing against someone else on the Big Island was even better. I think the environment today, I think it is so meaningful for the Big Island, for Hilo, for our kids to come over here and get a feel for what they’re playing for … We’ve got a lot of other islands that we are playing for, and the reception was just amazing today.” 

Like the men’s matchup from Friday, the Vulcans took the energy and struck first as Kaile Cruz and Caiyle Kaupu scored the first four points before Rewers got the Rainbow Wahine on the board after two scoreless minutes with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. 

Both sides saw slow shooting starts overall though as the Rainbow Wahine and Vulcans combined to go 5-of-26 from the floor, leaving UH-Mānoa with an 8-7 lead after 10 minutes of play. Hawai’i-Hilo forced seven turnovers in the 1st quarter, helping the hosting Vulcans remain close despite missing all six attempts from three-point range and getting outrebounded by six. 

UH-Mānoa settled into action in the 2nd quarter as the defense suffocated Hawai’i-Hilo, forcing five takeaways while holding the Vulcans to just one made shot in the entire frame. Conversely, the Rainbow Wahine went 8-of-14 from the field in the quarter, extending a one-point lead to a 20-point advantage by the half, 29-9. 

After the halftime break, the Vulcans responded with the team’s best quarter of the night, working back within 11 by the end of the frame. The Rainbow Wahine struggled to get back in rhythm defensively, committing seven fouls and allowing the Vulcans to go 7-for-11 from the field in the third. 

That rhythm returned in the 4th quarter as Rewers returned to the court and scored the first six points for the Rainbow Wahine. Lily Wahinekapu, Imani Perez and local girl Kelsie Imai combined with Rewers to push the lead back up to 18 for UHM before checking out with about four minutes left in regulation. 

With a younger lineup on the floor for UH-Mānoa, freshman Ritorya Tamilo used her 6-foot-5 frame to cause havoc on the offensive glass and gave a glimpse at the offensive potential she holds by scoring the final seven points for the Rainbow Wahine in the 69-50 win. 

Tamilo and Wahinekapu each ended the afternoon with 11 points for UH-Mānoa, just behind Rewers’ team-high 13 points. 

“I think her growth has been great in the offseason. She has to become a more physical post player at times and that isn’t always what she wants to do, but I thought today … she did some of the things we were asking for,” Beeman said of Rewers’ performance. “I thought Ritorya Tamilo had a great, kind-of, coming out party for her as a freshman, which is awesome.” 

Kelsie Imai, after being held scoreless through most of the first half, added eight points, three assists and two steals in 22 minutes in her return home to the Big Island. 

“Kelsie definitely was pressing a little bit today – we anticipated that – but I think it was so meaningful for her and her family to see so many people show up for her,” said Beeman. 

Jovi Lefotu made her return to action for UHM after recovering from an injury and redshirting last season, scoring six points and grabbing three rebounds in 16 minutes of work. In all, eight different Rainbow Wahine had multiple baskets in a game that saw 13 different players take the floor. 

Kaile Cruz poured in a game-high 14 points, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the charity stripe while drilling a pair of 3-pointers for Hawai’i-Hilo. Caiyle Kaupu, who transferred back home after spending the past four seasons playing in the Big West for UC Irvine, finished with 13 points and seven boards for the Vulcans. 

Hawai’i-Hilo now waits for November 10 when Hawai’i Pacific visits to open the regular season in a non-conference meeting between PacWest foes. UH-Mānoa returns to action next weekend for another exhibition, taking on Chaminade on Maui on November 2.