Cossey, a streak-shooting senior, scored 20 points in the first half and finished with a career-high 31 and school-record seven 3-pointers. After missing her first shot, Cossey hit eight straight. She came into the game averaging nine points.

"She hit one 3 when we weren't covering her because we were going for a loose ball," UH coach Vince Goo said. "Other than that, on all her shots we were right up on her.

"You've just got to hope she has an off night. If she's hot, it's all net."

Still, the Mustangs (12-10, 8-5 WAC) led just 36-32 at halftime as Hawai'i (5-16, 3-9) rallied from two 10-point deficits.

The Rainbows led briefly in the opening minutes of the second half. Freshman Janevia Taylor scored the first five points. After an SMU bucket, Amy Sanders sank a 3-pointer and Jade Abele drove to put Hawai'i ahead, 42-38.

Taylor then had one of her six steals. The 'Bows converted on a Brittany Grice layup, off Sanders' assist, to go up six.

"We did exactly what we wanted to open the half," Goo said. "We were relaxed on offense and pushed it up the floor. We took it to them. Then we had a letdown and they came back. They're a veteran team. They are going to come back."

The Mustangs scored the next nine points and never trailed again. They took their largest lead, 59-48, after Cossey knocked down three straight from behind the arc, then hit a reverse.

Hawai'i fought back one more time behind Sanders, Abele and Trisha Nishimoto, cutting the deficit to 65-63 with 2:58 to go. SMU scored nine of the last 11, going 7 of 8 from the foul line in the final 1:27.

"I think we played really, really well at times," Goo said. "They gave us some stuff, then it went the other way. We made mental mistakes and they went on streaks. We missed two shots and turned it over once at the end and then we had to foul. Fouls were the key in the second half."

It was the first time in seven games — since it beat SMU a month ago — Hawai'i reached 60 points. The Rainbow Wahine, the WAC's worst 3-point shooting team, hit 9 of 17 yesterday. They were led by Taylor's 14 points. Sanders had a career-high 13 and Abele 11.

SMU made 10 of 21 3-pointers, thanks to Cossey's 7-for-10 performance. Senior Kim Walter had SMU's first double-double of the season, collecting 10 points and 10 rebounds. Point guard Kendall Shead added 10 rebounds, nine assists and five points.

The 'Bows play Boise State at home Thursday, then host UTEP Saturday.