Hawai’i shakes off rocky shooting to sweep season series with Cal State Fullerton

Rolling on a high. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team extended its win streak to nine on Saturday afternoon, sweeping the season series against Cal State Fullerton despite shooting just 33.9% from the floor as they dominated in transition for a 54-47 victory. Senior Brooklyn Rewers provided a lift off the bench for the Rainbow Wahine, scoring 11 points to go along with five rebounds and a block to lead the way. 

UH got major contributions from multiple players from the bench, seeing Jovi Lefotu tally eight points and a pair of assists while Kelsie Imai added seven points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of work. While the Rainbow Wahine struggled from long distance (3-20 from 3PT range), they cashed in from the charity stripe by going 13-for-14 at the line. 

Imani Perez and Mia ‘Uhila each added eight points in the victory for the Rainbow Wahine, who remain tied atop the Big West conference standings with UC Irvine after the Anteaters pulled out a 52-49 victory at UC Davis on Saturday afternoon. After dropping the first two conference games of the season, Hawai’i has returned to form from the previous three years as the defense continues to rank amongst the nation’s best in Division I. 

Cal State Fullerton got the scoring started with a basket two and a half minutes into the action, but Hawai’i quickly worked in front as Rewers – who was held scoreless on Thursday – drained her first shot off the bench from behind the arc to put the Rainbow Wahine up by three. A finish down low by the 6-foot-4 center helped the Rainbow Wahine end the quarter with five of the final seven points to enter the second quarter leading, 14-10. 

While Hawai’i extended the lead to as many as six in the frame, the teams played to stalemate over the 10 minutes as they each scored 10 points while holding the other without a make from long range. Despite making 4-of-16 attempts from the floor, the UH defense stifled any progress on the margin that the Titans could make by forcing five turnovers in the quarter.  

The Rainbow Wahine came out of halftime with a newfound energy, scoring the first seven points after of the break to open up a game-high 11-point lead just over three minutes into the third quarter. Just as UH started the frame, Cal State Fullerton finished strong with nine points over the final 3:21 of the period to go into the final 10 minutes still down just four. 

After seeing Hawai’i go back up by eight, Cal State Fullerton’s defense turned up for one final run at the Rainbow Wahine by holding the visitors without a point for four and a half minutes as Aaliyah Stanton pulled them within a single possession. Imani Perez quieted down the increasingly excited crowd in attendance with a left-handed finish with 46 seconds left to put UH back up by five, 50-45. 

After getting two stops, Jovi Lefotu and Kelsie Imai each calmly went 2-for-2 in their trips to the foul line to ice the victory for Hawai’i. Saturday’s win also was UH’s 12th straight over Cal State Fullerton, last losing to the Titans to close out February in 2020. 

Aixchel Hernandez was the lone CSUF player in double figures, recording 10 points, 11 rebounds and a pair of rejections for the Titans in the loss. Aaliyah Stanton added nine points and two assists, scoring five of her nine in the final quarter. 

Hawai’i will look to extend its season-long nine game win streak next Thursday when Cal Poly comes to the islands for a visit. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT as fans are invited to enjoy the theme of the night – “Viva Las Vegas” – and take advantage of the “Bows & Brews” promotion that provides two tickets and two adult beverages for $30 total.