Credit Union 1 Big West Women's Basketball Championship Semifinals \ No. 4 Hawai'i 67, No. 1 UC Irvine 63 (OT)

Box score | UH presser | UCI presser
HENDERSON, Nev. — Playing in a second postseason overtime contest in as many days, Hawai'i played ouster to No. 1 seed and regular-season co-champion UC Irvine 67-63 in the semifinal round of the 2026 Credit Union 1 Big West Women's Basketball Championship at Lee's Family Forum. 

The Rainbow Wahine, now advancing to their ninth appearance in a Big West Championship game, have a record of 22-10 on the season and will face the winner of No. 2 seed UC San Diego and third-seeded UC Davis on Saturday at 3 o'clock on ESPN+ for the league's automatic berth to the 2026 NCAA  Division I Women's Basketball Championship. 

UH recorded key contributions from several players with Big West Freshman of the Year Bailey Flavell leading the team in scoring with 13 points, supported by six rebounds. Senior Imani Perez added 11 points to the tally with three triples coming in the first quarter of action. Saniyah Neverson added 10 points with a team-best seven rebounds and two blocks while Big West Best Sixth Player Ritorya Tamilo made a defensive impact with three swats and nine points. 

UH capitalized on its three-point shooting, making 44 percent of its attempts from distance (11-of-25), and secured the win with a big bucket and key free throws for Flavell in the overtime period. UCI's efforts included converting 17-of-18 free throw attempts, but it was not enough to surpass UH's bench, which contributed 31 points.

Hawai'i established an early edge in the first quarter, converting four of five three-point attempts and distributing six assists with three three-pointers off the hand of Perez and .571 shooting from the floor compared to UCI's icy start in Henderson. The Anteaters stayed competitive by making six free throws as the score was 20-16 after the first period. 

Hawai'i grew their lead in the second quarter, propelled by a balanced offensive effort and a strong presence in the paint. UCI battled for the one-point lead at 27-26 when Big West Player of the Year connected on a pair of free throws with 4:55 remaining in the period, but Neverson put UH back into the lead with a driving layup and the Rainbow Wahine were able to close the half on a 10-0 run with Tamilo and Teyahna Bond each contributing five points to put the score at 39-30 at the break.

The third period saw the Anteaters claw back to make it a one possession game as Big West Player of the Year Hunter Hernandez and Big West Newcomer of the Year Jada Wynn combined for their own 10-0 UCI run to make it 44-42. However, UH was able to close strong to again stretch the advantage to 10 heading into the final frame. 

UCI's strong shooting from beyond the arc sparked the fourth-quarter comeback, converting on four of six three-point attempts while locking down on defense. A late three by Flavell tied the game at 60-60 with eight seconds to play, and UCI couldn't convert on two tries by the basket at the end of regulation.

Despite only making one field goal in the extra period, UH's defense held the Anteaters to three points, aided by two blocks and a late steal. At the final horn, UH secured the 67-63 win, advancing to the final where they will compete for their fifth Big West women's basketball championship and a third at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nev. 

Hernandez stood out for the Anteaters, leading with a remarkable 33 points with four threes and a 13-of-14 effort from the free throw line to go along with a game-high eight rebounds an two steals. Wynn scored 18 points with four threes and four assists.

As The Big West's No. 1 seed, UC Irvine earns the league's automatic berth into the 32-team bracket of the WBIT. The field is set to be revealed on Selection Sunday on March 15 at 6 p.m. on ESPN+, with games beginning on campus sites on March 19. UC Irvine stands at 26-6 on the season thus far.