Women's Basketball

Hawai'i Overpowered by UNLV in the First Round of the WBIT

Box score
The Big West regular-season champion Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine fell at UNLV, 63-46, to cap their season in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament from Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nev.

Making their fourth-straight national postseason appearance and consecutive WBIT fields, Hawai'i closes the season with a 22-10 overall record. UNLV improves to 26-7 and advances to play Florida on Saturday, March 23 in the second round of the bracket.

Big West Player of the Year Lily Wahinekapu led the Rainbow Wahine with 18 points with three steals in a collegiate capping contest. Senior Brooklyn Rewers added 10 points with a team-high four rebounds in the loss. 

UH jumped out to an early 8-0 lead in the game, highlighted by a three-pointer from Imani Perez at 9:38 with an assist from Kelsie Imai. With an 0-for-8 quarter from beyond the arc, UNLV was able to respond with a strong inside presence. The Lady Rebels scored 10 points in the paint to close the gap, with Meadow Roland contributing key baskets including a layup at 1:32 to tie the contest at 10 apiece. UNLV took the lead in the final minute, ending the quarter with a 12-10 advantage, as Roland scored again off an offensive rebound with 55 seconds remaining.

In the second quarter, UNLV was able to use a scoring spurt to push the lead to seven before a three-pointer from Rewers was followed by a triple for Mia 'Uhila to close the gap to 1 with 5:35 remaining in the period and the score at 19-18. However, the hosts were able to close the half strong with a seven-point lead at the break. 

UNLV opened the third quarter with 11 unanswered to break open the lead. The Lady Rebels were able maintain a double-digit advantage throughout the second half with multiple offensive contributions to garner the victory. The Lady Rebels outshot UH 41.4 to 32.8 percent while finishing with a 47-26 advantage on the glass in the game.

Roland led a trio of double-digit scorers for UNLV with 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Amarachi Kimpson added 14 points with Macy Spencer contributing 10 to the stat sheet. McKinna Brackens crashed the boards with a game-high 12 rebounds in the Lady Rebels win.