High-speed Hawai’i offense on full display in exhibition win over Hawaii Pacific

HONOLULU – Runnin’ Rainbow Wahine.

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team took to the floor for the first time under the leadership of first-year head coach Khalilah Mitchell on Wednesday night, dominating to the tune of a 90-38 exhibition win over Hawaii Pacific University.

Sophomore Bailey Flavell looked primed for a big second year in the islands, leading the way with 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting, adding four rebounds and a pair of assists in 23 minutes of work against the Sharks as she helped push the tempo from the opening tip.

The Rainbow Wahine sliced and diced HPU in the opening quarter with a consistent downhill attack and speedy transition breaks, taking a 27-7 lead through 10 minutes of action. Hawai’i recorded assists on six of the team’s 10 made baskets, racking up 15 points on the fast break.

Hawaii Pacific started to find the touch from distance in the follow-up frame, drilling three 3-pointers, but still couldn’t stop the Rainbow Wahine from getting to the rim as the lead grew to 28 by halftime. Hawai’i got to the free throw line 20 times in the opening 20 minutes and scored 36 points in the paint, but did turn the ball over eight times before the break.

Ritorya Tamilo had eight of her 14 points in the second quarter against the Sharks, going 4-for-5 from the free throw line while grabbing three of her 12 rebounds on the night. The junior also blocked a shot and attempted a 3-pointer that was off the mark as the 6-foot-5 center continues to work on extending her range.

The Sharks struggled against the length of the Rainbow Wahine, turning the ball over 11 times while connecting on 24% of their attempts from the floor during the first half. HPU fifth-year center Cori Wilcox had a solid showing in her first game action back after suffering a season-ending knee injury, scoring a couple of baskets against the bigger UH posts and grabbing three rebounds in 10 minutes of work.

Hawai’i extended the lead to 42 by the end of the third quarter as Flavell and Jovi Lefotu took turns tormenting the HPU defense, combining for 15 of the Rainbow Wahine’s 23 points in the frame. The Sharks shot just 23% from the field in the third while UH connected on 59% of their shots, scoring 14 points in the paint while hitting on a pair of threes after drilling none from distance in the first half.

Hawaii guard Jovi Lefotu fires a long-range jumper against HPU. | Photo Credit: Riley Guillermo

The Rainbow Wahine bench wrapped up the night with 12 of the final 19 points for the hosts, seeing junior guard Liz Udeze score five of her six points across the final 10 minutes to help secure the 90-38 victory while Tee Bond added four more points to finish the night as the third UH player in double figures with 13 points in 19 minutes of work.

Hawai’i scored 29 points on the break and 58 in the paint, continuing to attack the rim at a consistent rate while holding HPU to 14 points in the painted area and zero on the fast break.

Kalysa Ng knocked down two 3-pointers to while Wilcox added one more bucket after halftime to each lead the Sharks with six points while Jalen Samuel, Kaile Cruz and Mia Frye chipped in five points apiece for the Division 2 squad.

HPU will kick off the regular season with the Hoops in Hawai’i Classic next weekend, taking on Western Colorado on Friday, October 30 at Saint Louis School to open up a three-day tournament.

Hawai’i will be back in action on November 2, traveling to the continent to open up the season on the road against the University of Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. HT and can be seen on Big Ten Plus.