BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i defeated CSU Bakersfield 65-55 in women's basketball action Wednesday in the Icardo Center.

The Roadrunners made five of their first seven shots and took a 10-6 lead into the first quarter media timeout. CSUB went cold from there, missing their next 11 shots as the Rainbow Wahine mounted a 12-0 charge to take an eight-point lead.

The Roadrunners chipped away and closed to within three midway through the second before Hawai'i (7-5) again used cold CSUB shooting to take a 28-21 lead into halftime.  The Rainbow Wahine would lead by as many as nine in the third quarter before CSUB put together a stretch in which the Roadrunners cut the UH advantage to 39-37 when Brittany Sims recorded a layup.

CSUB stopped Hawai'i on their next two possessions but the Roadrunners committed a pair of turnovers. Trailing the Rainbow Wahine by four, Sims again went to the basket and scored to return the UH lead to two. UH played for the last shot in the third quarter. Connie Morris missed a mid-range jumper but Destiny King got the rebound and passed it out to Briana Harris who made the first Hawai'i three-pointer of the game as time expired in the frame.

The Roadrunners would reduce the UH advantage to three for the final time when Addi Walters sank a layup with 8:29 remaining. The Rainbow Wahine held CSUB to one point over the next 4:48 as UH would a 59-48 advantage at the 3:09 mark. Hawai'i took their largest lead of the game, 13 points, with 1:11 to play before the final would be 10 points in favor of the team from the 50th state.

“It is frustrating when you miss a ton of easy shots,” said CSUB head coach Greg McCall. “We executed our plays well, but we just couldn't put the ball in the basket. We have to do a better job of finishing at the rim.”

Five Hawai'i players scored in double figures, led by King who had 13. Connie Morris scored all 12 of her points in the second half. Kalei Adolpho, Harris, and Megan Huff each scored 10 for UH. Alyssa Shannon recorded a game high 15 points for the Roadrunners. The CSUB point guard added four assists, four steals, and two rebounds. Batabe Zempare scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Rainbow Wahine outshot the Roadrunners 44.9 (22-of-49) to 38.9% (21-of-54). Hawai'i got the Roadrunners in foul trouble, going to the line 27 times. UH made 19 attempts from the charity stripe as CSUB, who normally makes 77% of their free throw attempts could only must 12 makes on 19 attempts (63.2%). Both teams had 33 rebounds. UH scored 13 points off of 15 CSUB turnovers, but the 'Runners had more steals (8-6).

“We sent them to the line way too many times,” McCall said. “We got up more shots than they did and the rebounding was even after they killed us earlier this season.”

The Rainbow Wahine sweep the season series from the Roadrunners after defeating CSU Bakersfield 74-60 earlier this year at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown Nov. 27.

CSUB closes out non-conference play Sunday afternoon when the Roadrunners (2-12) host UC Irvine (3-10) at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at Vallitix.com.

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