UCLA takes down Hawai’i in Rainbow Wahine Showdown title game

UCLA takes down Hawai’i in Rainbow Wahine Showdown title game

Dec 1, 2024

UCLA center Lauren Betts goes up for a shot against Hawai’i center Brooklyn Rewers during the Bruins’ 70-49 win over the Rainbow Wahine on Sunday. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

UCLA takes down Hawai’i in Rainbow Wahine Showdown title game

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED DECEMBER 1, 2024

HONOLULU – To the next. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team fell to No. 1 UCLA in the 2024 American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown championship game on Sunday, 70-49. It snapped a 15-game home winning streak for UH, marking the first time Laura Beeman’s team had fallen inside the Stan Sheriff Center in over a year. 

Hawai’i (5-2) was without the services of freshman center Ritorya Tamilo for the first time this season while sophomore guard Jovi Lefotu missed her third straight game. Brooklyn Rewers made her second start of the year and first since the season-opener at Portland in place of Tamilo, being tasked with a defensive assignment of UCLA All-American center Lauren Betts. 

The Bruins (8-0) scored the game’s first nine points before Rewers finally got the scoring started for the Rainbow Wahine with a three with 6:31 left in the opening period. Hawai’i continued to struggle offensively, hitting only one more shot from the floor and getting a pair of free throws from Rewers to head into the quarter break down, 18-7. 

Betts picked up her second foul with 7:35 to play in the first half, sending the 6-foot-7 center to the bench with UCLA still leading by 11. A continued defensive effort and extra hustle, sparked by three first-half blocks by freshman Danijela Kujovic and the unrelenting playstyle of Kelsie Imai, helped Hawai’i remain close as the team worked through the offensive struggles. 

“That’s what the number one team in the country is supposed to do, to come out and punch and I thought we took their punch pretty well,” Beeman said postgame. 

Helped by the effort, defense and three 3-pointers in the frame, including back-to-back hits by Jade Peacock and MeiLani McBee in the final two minutes, the Rainbow Wahine closed within three points of the top-ranked Bruins by halftime. In all, Hawai’i totaled five blocks while holding UCLA to 32 points in the first 20 minutes, tied for the lowest first half scoring output all season for the Bruins. 

“I thought that first half was very good,” Beeman reflected. “And I still think we can play better basketball.” 

Daejah Phillips got the action started out of the break, rolling in a layup over the front of the rim to bring the Rainbow Wahine within one before forcing UCLA into a shot clock violation. The Bruins returned the favor on the next possession, forcing a shot clock violation against UH that would ultimately spark a 9-0 run for the nation’s top-ranked team to go back up double digits.  

Lily Wahinekapu ended the three-minute scoring drought for Hawai’i with her first points of the afternoon, drilling a three to make it a 41-34 game with 5:39 left to play in the third quarter. UCLA punched back, rattling off 13 of the next 14 points to take a commanding 19-point lead just before the end of the period. 

“I think that second quarter was about energy, was about our communication. That’s something we have struggled with [and] the third quarter, we got quiet and quiet teams don’t win,” said Beeman of the struggles. 

While Hawai’i’s offense never truly turned on in the final quarter (3-14 FG), the defense bounced back to hold the Bruins to 27% shooting from the floor in the final 10 minutes. UCLA cashed in on 8-of-10 chances from the foul line in the fourth, doubled-up Hawai’i on the glass, 14-7, and ultimately won the frame by just four points as the Bruins stayed unbeaten through non-conference play with a 70-49 decision over the Rainbow Wahine. 

Kiki Rice led the way for UCLA, scoring a game-high 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting (5-of-5 FT) on her way to being selected to the all-tournament team. Lauren Betts finished the day with 18 points and a season-low three rebounds for the Bruins but was still selected as the tournament MVP after the 6-foot-7 star averaged 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and led her team to a perfect 3-0 weekend with an average margin of victory of 45.7 points. 

Lily Wahinekapu led Hawai’i with 10 points, all coming after halftime, while Brooklyn Rewers chipped in eight points, six rebounds and a pair of blocks in 28 minutes of work. Daejah Phillips added nine points while Kelsie Imai hustled her way to four points, three rebounds (all offensive) and three assists off the bench for Hawai’i. 

“I thought overall, it was a fantastic weekend for this group,” Beeman said Sunday. “To go 2-1 and to play the way we did on Friday and Saturday, which we did not have our best basketball but found a way to win, [we are] getting better. We got some of our youth some experience that we promised them, and then to show up today and play the number one team in the country the way we did, I could not be more proud of this group.” 

Wahinekapu and Ritorya Tamilo were selected to the all-tournament team for the Rainbow Wahine, who will turn around for a rare December conference game against Long Beach State on Saturday. It will be the sixth game of a 7-game homestand for Hawai’i before wrapping up the non-conference schedule on the continent in the San Diego Invitational. 

“We’re not going backwards from here,” Beeman vowed. “[The players] now know that.”

Hawai’i takes down UT-Martin on Day 2 of Rainbow Wahine Showdown

Hawai’i takes down UT-Martin on Day 2 of Rainbow Wahine Showdown

Nov 30, 2024

Hawai’i’s bench celebrates after a basket during the Rainbow Wahine Showdown. | Photo Credit: Michael Lasquero, HSRN

Hawai’i takes down UT-Martin on Day 2 of Rainbow Wahine Showdown

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 30, 2024

HONOLULU – Skyhawks down. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team shook off a slow offensive start for the second straight day on Saturday, using a dominant third quarter to ground the UT-Martin Skyhawks (1-6) on Day Two of the American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown, 47-39. The win marked the 15th consecutive time that the Rainbow Wahine have emerged victorious at home and gave the team its best six-game start to a season in head coach Laura Beeman’s 13-year run with the program. 

Lily Wahinekapu was the lone UH player to reach double figures on the afternoon, scoring 10 points while pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the year and second of her career. Ritorya Tamilo added nine points and 10 boards while Daejah Phillips chipped in eight points all in the second half for the Rainbow Wahine. 

It was another slow offensive start for Hawai’i (5-1), shooting just 27 percent from the floor through the opening 10 minutes but holding a two-point advantage thanks to seven turnovers by UT-Martin that led directly to 10 points for UH. After pushing the lead to six with a 3-pointer from freshman Danijela Kujovic for her first college points, the Rainbow Wahine offense stalled out completely as the Skyhawks ended the half on a 13-0 run to take a 24-17 lead into the break. 

Wahinekapu came bursting out of the break, scoring or assisting on six straight points for Hawai’i to begin the third quarter before Imani Perez’s finish on the move gave the Rainbow Wahine the lead back by one with 5:46 left in the frame. A short jumper from UT-Martin guard Daejah Richmond broke a six-minute scoring drought after the break, but Phillips came sprinting back with a left-handed layup of her own to get the points back before Kujovic drilled her second triple of the night to make it a seven-point game with 3:28 left in the third. 

“I thought both [Kujovic] and [Rebecca Moors], I don’t want to forget about what Bex did,” Beeman said speaking of multiple members of the UH freshman class. “[Moors] didn’t hit shots today, but she did everything I asked her to do … Dani got on the court and got a good look at the basket that really slowed her shot down and defensively, I think it was a pretty good matchup. Dani is a pretty physical kid and so she was able to execute in that full court press.” 

Frustration with the officials boiled over for UT-Martin head coach Kevin McMillan a minute later after Daejah Phillips appeared to get away with a travel right in front of the Skyhawks’ bench, shouting at the referee before quickly getting a technical foul. 

Phillips stepped to the line and drilled both free throws and buckets by Tamilo and Wahinekapu to close the quarter capped off a 22-4 thrashing in the frame by the Rainbow Wahine as UH entered the final 10 minutes leading by double digits, 39-28. 

“I thought the third quarter was outstanding for us, both defensively and offensively,” Beeman said after the game. “It’s something this team is capable of doing for four quarters and for whatever reason, we’re just coming out to some slow starts and not really focusing on the execution.” 

The Skyhawks cut into the margin to begin the fourth, scoring first four points before another circus finish by Phillips restored the 11-point lead for Hawai’i with 6:01 to play. The Rainbow Wahine held that double-digit cushion into the final minute before UT-Martin guard Kenley McCarn snuck in four points to close the gap right before falling after the final buzzer, 47-39. 

Anaya Brown led the way for the Skyhawks, tallying 11 points and four rebounds while knocking down 5-of-8 free throw attempts in the loss. Daejah Richmond added eight points on an efficient 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, hauling in six rebounds and a steal too. 

The Skyhawks will face off against Fresno State in the second-to-last game of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Sunday, tipping off at noon and playing the role of opener for a true tournament championship game for Hawai’i and national No. 1 UCLA, which will tip around 2:30 p.m. HT. 

“Overall, we’re 2-0 in a really difficult tournament. I couldn’t be more proud of these kids and their effort, how hard they’re playing, the adjustments that they’re able to make … Really proud of where we are right now, we’ve got our hands full [on Sunday] but it’s a wonderful opportunity for our program,” Beeman stated. 

UCLA snapped defending national champion South Carolina’s 43-game winning streak last Sunday in dominant fashion, rising to the number one spot in the AP Poll for the first time in program history. It will be the second meeting between programs in the last two years and 11th matchup between the Rainbow Wahine and Bruins all-time, a series led nine games to one by UCLA heading into Sunday. 

The matchup will be Laura Beeman’s first against the nation’s top team since 2012, her first year on the job when Hawai’i hosted Baylor in November of that year. The Bruins are led by 6-foot-7 standout Lauren Betts, who was shooting 71 percent from the field entering the tournament while averaging 19.4 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. 

Hawai’i rolls by Eastern Washington for Bank of Hawaii Classic crown

Hawai’i rolls by Eastern Washington for Bank of Hawaii Classic crown

Nov 24, 2024

The Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine pose together for a photo after winning the 2024 Bank of Hawaii Classic title. | Photo Credit: Paul Brecht, HSRN

Hawai’i rolls by Eastern Washington for Bank of Hawaii Classic crown

BY PAUL BRECHT | HONOLULU
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 24, 2024

HONOLULU – More hardware for the trophy case. 

The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team won its third straight contest on Sunday, defeating Eastern Washington (1-5) in the final game of the Bank of Hawaii Classic, 67-55. MeiLani McBee led the way for the Rainbow Wahine with 12 points and three steals, swishing four 3-pointers throughout the afternoon to help push UH’s home winning streak to 13 consecutive games. 

The 3-1 start to the season for Hawai’i is the best since 2019 and the first time that the Rainbow Wahine have gone 2-0 in the Bank of Hawaii Classic since 2017. 

The visiting Eagles led only once the entire afternoon, seeing Jaecy Eggers cash in from distance a minute and a half into action to take a 3-2 lead over the Rainbow Wahine. Hawai’i (3-1) retook the lead two minutes later with a Daejah Phillips lay-in and expanded the advantage with some airtight defense as EWU missed on 12 straight field goal attempts. 

Down 12-3, Bella Hays snapped the scoring drought for Eastern Washington with 1:59 left in the first quarter. The Eagles rattled off seven straight points to bring the visitors within a pair, but Imani Perez drilled a three at the buzzer to send Hawai’i into the second quarter leading 15-10. 

Hawai’i would extend the lead to 21-13 by the six-minute mark of the second frame before a 6-0 Eastern Washington run pulled the Eagles back within two with 4:36 left in the half. Out of the mid-quarter media timeout, Phillips got UH’s offense settled back in with layup before a no-look pass from Lily Wahinekapu to Perez on the break gave Hawai’i a six-point advantage with 2:26 to play. 

The Rainbow Wahine took control of the game over the final minute of the half as back-to-back threes by MeiLani McBee, the second of which came off balance on one foot, sent Hawai’i into the locker room leading by double figures, 38-26. 

McBee picked up right where she left off to begin the third quarter, swishing home her third triple of the day before Ritorya Tamilo got on the board for the first time to give Hawai’i the biggest lead of the day, 43-26.  

Eastern Washington stuck around, holding Hawai’i without a basket for five minutes as a pair of threes brought the Eagles closer. Brooklyn Rewers drilled a three of her own with 4:09 remaining in the third to end the Rainbow Wahine scoring drought and Tamilo rolled in a left-handed layup to end the frame and send Hawai’i into the fourth with a double-digit lead in hand. 

Hawai’i kept EWU at arms’ length throughout the fourth, wrapping up the victory late as McBee hit her fourth 3-pointer with 2:53 left and Wahinekapu finished off a layup assisted by Perez to win the Bank of Hawaii Classic title with a 67-55 win. The Rainbow Wahine won the tournament by point-differential over Saint Mary’s, who also went 2-0 on the weekend. 

Peyton Howard led Eastern Washington with 14 points, four rebounds and six assists on her way earning all-tournament team honors. Alexis Pettis and Jaecy Eggers each chipped in nine points apiece for the Eagles, who will host another Big West foe on Wednesday when CSU Bakersfield visits EWU. 

Lily Wahinekapu filled the box sheet with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists and a steal on her way to tournament MVP honors for Hawai’i. Imani Perez was the only Rainbow Wahine player other than McBee to eclipse double figures, posting 11 points to go along with a pair of steals and a block in the win. 

Ritorya Tamilo was held under double-figure points for the first time in her college career, finishing with eight points and two blocks in the true freshman’s third straight start for Laura Beeman. 

Hawai’i will return to action on Friday in the American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown, hosting familiar face Avery Watkins and the Fresno State Bulldogs in the first of three games in three days. UT Martin and new national No. 1 UCLA will also participate in the Showdown, kicking off the round-robin tournament with a noon tip-off on Friday.