Hawai’i rides defense to season sweep of UC Irvine, 13th straight win

Hawai’i rides defense to season sweep of UC Irvine, 13th straight win

Feb 15, 2025

Hawai’i G Kelsie Imai drives to the rim during a home game. The senior matched her career-high on Saturday, scoring 12 points on the road to help lead the Rainbow Wahine to their 13th straight win. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i rides defense to season sweep of UC Irvine, 13th straight win

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Baker’s dozen. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team shook off another player absence in a season filled with them to secure their 13th consecutive win on Saturday afternoon, locking down UC Irvine (16-8, 10-4 Big West) to take a 2.5 game lead atop the Big West conference standings with a 49-44 road victory. The Rainbow Wahine were without the services of senior guard Mia ‘Uhila, who suffered an injury in the first half of Hawai’i’s win over Long Beach State on Thursday and missed her first game this season.

Kelsie Imai started in place of the injured ‘Uhila, filling in admirably as she matched her career-high with a team-best 12 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 33 minutes of work. Imai became the eighth Rainbow Wahine all-time to record 300 or more assists in her career in the win over LBSU and sits four dimes shy of tying Tia Kanoa (‘18-19) for sixth-most in program history. 

Imani Perez was the only other Hawai’i player to finish in double figures, chipping in 10 points and five rebounds to help the Rainbow Wahine sweep the regular season series against the Anteaters. Freshman center Ritorya Tamilo added eight points and 10 rebounds while blocking two shots to break the single-season freshman record for rejections with her 34th of the year – breaking Jeanne Wade’s record of 33 blocked shots from 1983-84. 

Hawai’i (19-6, 13-2 Big West) got a balanced effort from the jump, seeing six different players score in an opening quarter that the Rainbow Wahine used to take an 8-point lead through 10 minutes of play. MeiLani McBee scored all of her points on the day in the frame, drilling a three and short jumper to give her five points to lead all scorers after one. 

The Anteaters flipped the script in the second quarter, using a 16-2 run to push in front by five with 2:09 left in the half before the Rainbow Wahine closed the stanza with back-to-back buckets to go into the locker rooms trailing by one, 24-23. Hawai’i struggled shooting the ball in the period, connecting on just 3-of-17 attempts from the field and going 0-for-7 from long distance. 

After hitting each other with a pair of major right hooks in each of the first two quarters, the two Big West contenders played a far more competitive third frame, using the halftime break to settle back in. After the senior guards in Kelsie Imai and Lily Wahinekapu helped get the Rainbow Wahine back in the flow offensively, freshmen Ritorya Tamilo and Kira-May Filemu finished the period with quick snap to leave UH ahead by three after three quarters. 

With the lead in hand, Hawai’i turned back to its experience as they calmly closed out the team’s 13th consecutive victory with complimentary basketball down the stretch. The Rainbow Wahine connected on all 10 free throw attempts in the period, held UC Irvine to 1-of-9 shooting from the field over the final 10 minutes and never saw the Anteaters pull closer than two possessions to close out the day, 49-44.

Deja Lee and Hunter Hernandez each finished with eight points to lead UC Irvine, who fell at home for just the second time all season. The Hawai’i defense has been UCI’s kryptonite this year, seeing two of the team’s three lowest single-game scoring outputs in the two meetings with the Rainbow Wahine (42, 44). 

Lily Wahinekapu, who became the 25th player in Hawai’i program history to eclipse the 1,000-point threshold on Thursday, scored six points in the win over the Anteaters as she took sole possession of 10th place on the all-time made 3-pointers list (111) with two more triples on Saturday. 

Hawai’i finally gets a break in the action with a bye on Thursday before returning to the Stan Sheriff Center on February 22 for a battle against UC San Diego. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT. Fans are asked to wear pink as UH and Hawaii Pacific Health partner up to put the spotlight on the fight against cancer, calling Saturday’s contest a “Pink Game” for the Rainbow Wahine. 

Hawai’i holds off Long Beach State to snap losing streak

Hawai’i holds off Long Beach State to snap losing streak

Feb 13, 2025

Hawai’i G Marcus Greene dribbles down the court during a home game. The senior hit multiple clutch baskets down the stretch Thursday night, leading UH in scoring in the process to help secure a needed win over Long Beach State. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i holds off Long Beach State to snap losing streak

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 13, 2025

HONOLULU – Held ‘em off. 

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team snapped its 2-game losing streak on Thursday night, holding off a furious late rally to take down Long Beach State, 62-60. Marcus Greene and Ryan Rapp led the way for the Rainbow Warriors, each chipping in 10 points as they secured a season split with the Beach. 

Rapp, who re-entered the starting lineup after coming off the bench for the previous four games, provided a steady hand for Hawai’i with five points in each half before dealing with foul trouble late. Greene recorded his 10th game of the season with 10 or more points, masquerading as “Captain Clutch” down the stretch as he scored the final four points for the Rainbow Warriors to clinch the win. 

Hawai’i (14-11, 6-8 Big West) also got major contributions from junior Harry Rouhliadeff and freshman Aaron Hunkin-Claytor, who each continued to show off their consistent growth this season. Rouhliadeff racked up nine points and nine rebounds, grabbing five offensive boards in 33 minutes of action while Hunkin-Claytor saw a career-high 29 minutes lead to eight points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist in the win. 

Tanner Christensen helped the Rainbow Warriors get off to a night start, knocking down his third 3-pointer of the season to push UH out to a 9-6 lead in the opening minutes. Rouhliadeff got in on the big man long-range shooting fun a couple of minutes later, doubling the Hawai’i lead to six with 12:01 left in the first half. 

A 5-minute scoring drought followed for the Rainbow Warriors, but an improved defensive effort and focus helped Hawai’i keep Long Beach State without a field goal over the same span. Christensen finally ended the dry spell for Hawai’i with a tough take to the rim, giving an 18-11 lead to UH with 7:30 to play before the break. 

The Beach would pull within a point with three minutes left in the first half on the back of a 9-3 run, seeing Devin Askew slice inside for a layup to make it 21-20, but a strong answer by Hawai’i closed out the first stanza as Marcus Greene helped the Rainbow Warriors go into the locker room leading by five. 

Hawai’i raced out of the gate to open the second half, seeing Ryan Rapp and Aaron Hunkin-Claytor take turns tormenting the LBSU defense as the UH lead grew to nine after five minutes of play. Gytis Nemeikša extended the Hawai’i advantage to double figures a few minutes later, giving the Rainbow Warriors a 47-35 lead with under 10 minutes left in regulation. 

The hosts remained in control for the next several minutes, seeing solid interior passing lead to a dunk from Tanner Christensen to maintain an 11-point advantage for UH with 3:43 left in regulation, but a timely 3-pointer from LBSU guard TJ Wainwright pulled the visiting Beach within single digits as the teams went to their huddles for the night’s final media timeout. Following the timeout, the Long Beach State comeback momentum got a jumpstart after a flailing Wainwright drew a friendly whistle on a 3-point try in front of the visiting bench – sending fans and the Hawai’i bench into a frenzy. 

“I’ve got to watch it [again],” said Ganot of the call, which had him visibly displeased in the moment. “If you’re asking me specifically, I thought there was a leg kick in there and you’re not allowed to do that … I have great respect for officials, I have great respect for the crew … I’ll have to take [another] look at it and go from there.” 

Wainwright drained all three free throws after a small delay, pulling Long Beach State within five with 2:41 still to play and sparking new life for the visitors. Hunkin-Claytor split a pair of foul shots before another Wainwright triple made it a one-possession game with 90 seconds to play, 58-55. 

Enter Marcus Greene. 

After Hawai’i secured an offensive rebound, the senior guard drained out as much of the clock he could before calmly cashing a mid-range jumper to give the Rainbow Warriors a 5-point lead once again with 35 seconds left. Another 3-pointer from LBSU gave one last chance of life to the visitor’s comeback effort, but Greene closed the door on the Beach with two clutch free throws with 5.9 seconds to play that gave Hawai’i a two-possession advantage. 

TJ Wainwright led the way in the loss for Long Beach State, scoring 20 points and knocking down 3-of-5 from long distance to help the visitors claw as close as two in the waning seconds. Devin Askew added 16 points on a rough 5-of-20 shooting performance, seeing multiple different defenders thrown at him throughout the night as the Beach fell for the ninth consecutive game. 

Hawai’i will look to build on the much-needed win on Saturday when UC Irvine comes to town for the second meeting of the season between the programs. The Anteaters, who beat the Rainbow Warriors by 16 in the first meeting three weeks ago, are coming off a sweaty victory of their own after a buzzer-beater helped hold off UC Santa Barbara to remain tied atop the Big West standings. Tip-off between UH and UCI is scheduled for 7 p.m. HT on Saturday night. 

Mana Wahine Wednesday: Hawai’i T&F sprinter Isabella Kneeshaw

Mana Wahine Wednesday: Hawai’i T&F sprinter Isabella Kneeshaw

Feb 13, 2025

Mana Wahine Wednesday: Hawai’i T&F sprinter Isabella Kneeshaw

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 13, 2025

HONOLULU – From off the radar to undeniable. 

University of Hawai’i sprinter Isabella Kneeshaw turned in one of the greatest single-season performances in UH track and field history in her first go-round with the program last year, becoming the third-ever Rainbow Wahine athlete to earn a major postseason Big West award as the conference’s Co-Freshman of the Year honoree. It went alongside her Big West title in the 400-meter, which she won with a blazing time of 54.01 seconds – the second-fastest mark in program history in the outdoor event. 

Add in multiple other titles and broken records and you see that Kneeshaw’s first year in Hawai’i was something ripped out of a movie script. The anchor of the 4×100 relay team for the Rainbow Wahine, a group that broke a program record in the event that stood for nearly 40 years three separate times last year, the now-sophomore sprinter recalls how it all seemingly came together in a flash. 

“It’s always been a dream of mine since I was young, to be a college athlete,” Kneeshaw said. “Originally, I really wanted to do soccer, but I ended up sticking with track and honestly, my senior year of high school was very chaotic. I didn’t run my best times until the last couple meets of the season, so I was behind in the recruiting process.” 

From Oregon, Kneeshaw began looking into schools on the west coast and more specifically, in the Big West. Even after her research, the sprinting star did not know where her next home would be to continue her education and athletic career as she walked across the stage and graduated from high school. 

“It was a very stressful little time in my life,” Kneeshaw recalled. 

Talent certainly wasn’t the issue – the youngest child of two college track and field athletes (Dad competed at the University of Montana, Mom was a sprinter at the University of Idaho), Kneeshaw had natural talent shining through daily while she collected major hardware in high school. She was named a USATF All-American in 2022 in both the 4×100 and 4×400 before earning 2023 Nike Indoor Nationals All-American honors in the 4×200 and 4×400 events, all leading up to her coronation as an OSAA 6A team state champion to close her prep career.  

“I ended up reaching out to [Hawai’i track and field head coach Madeleine Carleton] after looking into just Big West schools in general,” Kneeshaw said when asked about how Hawai’i got on her radar. “She was the first coach that I feel like really cared about me as a person, not just me as an athlete, and that made such a difference.” 

From the first phone call between the two, a partnership between Kneeshaw and Hawai’i seemed to be destined. One of her cousins living in the islands after getting married certainly didn’t hurt Hawai’i’s chances in cementing itself as a comfortable landing spot for the talented sprinter. 

After a little more thought, Kneeshaw committed and got ready to make her way to the islands herself. Since then, it has only been an upward trajectory from the start of the ride. 

“I feel like it all really worked out and I ended up where I’m supposed to be,” the sprinter smiled. 

The work began immediately, introducing Kneeshaw to better preparation for her events that she quickly implemented for a successful first year. While success did come fast, a more important lesson was learned: trust the process, prosper at the end of the year. 

As a first-year student-athlete at the Division I level, Kneeshaw wanted to go for personal records and push her limits every single time that she could – sometimes to her own detriment. One of the most memorable takeaways from her first season working with Coach Carleton was that the program prepares and plans out training for the athletes to peak at the right times. 

The proof of concept for Carleton is there for all the athletes to see, watching accolade after accolade and win after win roll in for the Rainbow Wahine last season as they followed intently behind their leader.  

“Learning to trust that she has a bigger plan and a process for us I think has given me a lot more confidence,” Kneeshaw said. “It always pans out well, so I think she’s a coach I can really trust and that’s made all the difference.” 

The difference ended up being multiple records, titles and a taste of what is to come for the University of Hawai’i women’s track and field team. Kneeshaw expects more of the same this season, part of the higher standards she has long held herself to, but knows she has to remember to have fun with it every day while she continues to trust her training. 

After competing in the U20 World Track & Field Championships in Peru and representing the USA over the summer, Kneeshaw is back and already making burning up the track on the indoor side of things. The sophomore sprinter set the 600-meter school record on the first day of competition of 2025 and helped the 4×400 relay team finish with the second-fastest time in Hawai’i indoor program history on February 1 in Seattle during the UW Invite, closing out a 3:45:69 performance that trails only last year’s MPSF title run by the Rainbow Wahine. 

She and her relay teammates will look to repeat the feat next week on February 21 and 22 in the MPSF Indoor Championships in Spokane, Wash., before closing out the indoor season in the middle of March at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The talent is undeniable, it’s about trusting the process. 

‘Uhila’s career night leads Hawai’i comeback over UC Santa Barbara

‘Uhila’s career night leads Hawai’i comeback over UC Santa Barbara

Feb 9, 2025

Hawai’i G Mia ‘Uhila attacks the basket in transition against UC Santa Barbara. The senior had a career-high 23 points on Saturday to help the Rainbow Wahine erase a 19-point deficit to come back and win their 11th consecutive game. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

‘Uhila’s career night leads Hawai’i comeback over UC Santa Barbara

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 9, 2025

HONOLULU – Sticks. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team erased a 19-point deficit to come back and extend the team’s winning streak to 11 on Saturday night, taking down UC Santa Barbara 65-58 to avenge the last loss that the Rainbow Wahine suffered. Senior guard Mia ‘Uhila led UH in points, rebounds and assists, erupting for a career-high 23 points (19 after halftime), seven boards and four dimes in the victory. 

“Just a gritty effort – again,” said head coach Laura Beeman of her team’s impressive comeback. “There was no panic. We just needed to clean some things up, needed to pick up our tempo and the only way you can pick up tempo is if you get stops and that’s what happened in the third quarter.” 

MeiLani McBee added 12 points and five rebounds for the Rainbow Wahine, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers while calmly cashing in on all six free throw attempts in 27 minutes of action. Lily Wahinekapu returned from her one-game absence to score 11 points, leaving the senior guard at 999 for her UH career. 

The night got off to a rocky start for Hawai’i, who hit 2-of-16 from the floor in the opening quarter as they watched UC Santa Barbara race out to a commanding 26-7 lead after the first 10 minutes. The Gauchos opened the game on fire, seeing three different players drill consecutive 3-pointers to start the action on route to a 10-of-17 shooting performance (5-of-8 3PT) in the first quarter. 

Hawai’i’s defense recovered quickly, holding UCSB down in the second quarter as the visitors saw their efficiency drop off a cliff with three total makes from the floor in the frame. After being held scoreless for the first 19 minutes of the opening half, UH guard Mia ‘Uhila scored four points in the final 50 seconds to help the Rainbow Wahine slice the deficit to 11 at the break. 

‘Uhila didn’t allow the stoppage to break her focus, springboarding the Rainbow Wahine to begin the third quarter as she powered a 15-2 run that put Hawai’i in front for the first time since the opening minute, 40-38. UC Santa Barbara slowed the momentum over the final six minutes of the quarter, playing Hawai’i even and heading into the final period trailing by a pair. 

“She’s really good,” Beeman said of ‘Uhila following the game. “Our system is not easy and Mia, every game, is getting more and more comfortable with the system … Today, she just played [comfortable]. I’m really proud of her and what she did this week.” 

Hawai’i G Mia ‘Uhila receives congratulations following a career outing as the Rainbow Wahine thanked fans after the game. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

The Rainbow Wahine scored 8 of 10 points to start the fourth quarter, taking a 56-48 advantage as the clock continued to drain away. A pair of free throws from UCSB’s Skylar Burke pulled the Gauchos back within five with 1:31 left to play, but that was the closest the visitors would get as Hawai’i cashed in from the foul line to close out a near-20-point comeback for the team’s 11th straight win, 65-58. 

Skylar Burke led the way for UC Santa Barbara, pouring in a team-high 20 points and nine rebounds in the loss. Zoe Borter added 11 points and six boards for the Gauchos while leading scorer Alyssa Marin was held to just nine points on 2-of-10 shooting against the suffocating Hawai’i defense. 

Hawai’i hits the road again next week, looking to avenge the only other conference loss the team has suffered so far this season as they visit Long Beach State on Thursday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. HT. 

“I’m very aware that Long Beach got us [at home],” Beeman floated. “I think [our players] are too.” 

Hawai’i offense disappears late in loss at UC Santa Barbara

Hawai’i offense disappears late in loss at UC Santa Barbara

Feb 8, 2025

Hawai’i G Kody Williams and G Ryan Rapp pass by each other during a home game for the Rainbow Warriors. Hawai’i fell for the sixth time in the last eight games on Saturday. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i offense disappears late in loss at UC Santa Barbara

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 2025

Empty trip. 

The University of Hawai’i men’s basketball team fell for the sixth time in the last eight games on Saturday night, going cold late down the stretch as UC Santa Barbara downed the Rainbow Warriors, 76-72. Hawai’i (13-11, 5-8 Big West) fought back from a double-digit second half deficit to hold a 3-point lead with more than four minutes to play before the Gauchos locked down the visitors to close it out. 

UC Santa Barbara guard Duece Turner finished tied for the game high, pouring in 23 points in 20 minutes off the bench in the victory for the Gauchos. Starting guard Jason Fontenet II added 12 points and eight rebounds while Stephan Swenson and Kenny Pohto each chipped in 10 points as UCSB (16-8, 8-5 Big West) beat UH for the seventh straight time.

Tanner Christensen recorded his first 20-point outing since November in the loss for the Rainbow Warriors, tallying 23 points and eight boards on an efficient 10-of-13 shooting performance. Ryan Rapp racked up 18 points off the bench while Harry Rouhliadeff and Kody Williams had 11 and 10 points respectively for Hawai’i, who sits in seventh place with a one-game cushion in the Big West standings with less than a month left in the regular season. 

After playing to a 7-7 tie over the opening four minutes, UC Santa Barbara quickly took control after the first media timeout with a 13-0 run before Kody Williams ended the UH scoring drought with his first 3-pointer of the game made it a 20-10 deficit for the Rainbow Warriors with 10 minutes left in the first half. The triple from Williams sparked a 19-2 run for Hawai’i, powered by eight points from Ryan Rapp to push UH in front by four with 5:44 remaining before the break. 

The end of the first half foreshadowed the future as Hawai’i mustered six points over the final five minutes of the stanza, watching the Gauchos race back in front going into the locker rooms, 39-32. 

After a Cole Anderson put UCSB back up by double digits to start the second half, the Rainbow Warriors fought back again to take the lead by three with 10:31 left in regulation. The two sides continued trading blows, seeing Hawai’i hold a slim 68-65 lead with just over four minutes remaining before the offense froze. The Gauchos would outscore the Rainbow Warriors, 11-4, over the waning minutes as the visitors found Santa Barbara to be a house of horrors again for a 76-72 loss. 

Hawai’i returns to action on Thursday, looking for revenge as they play host to Long Beach State with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. HT. The Beach enters the new week owing the longest current losing streak in the Big West with eight consecutive losses.