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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 10:37 p.m., Friday, November 26, 2004

Santa Clara stops Rainbow Wahine, 75-68

Associated Press

Ashley Graham scored 18 points to lead Santa Clara to a 75-68 win over host Hawaii today in the opening round of the Rainbow Wahine Classic at Stan Sheriff Center

In other first-round action, No. 3 Georgia beat Idaho 77-55, No. 13 Michigan State edged Utah 56-54 and Texas Christian bested California 96-89.

Hawaii (0-1) led as late as 1:50 remaining in the game when Jade Abele hit a basket underneath to give the Rainbow Wahine a 68-67 advantage.

But a jumper by Kasey Monteith and a 3-pointer by Quinn Thomas with 43 seconds remaining would seal the victory for Santa Clara (1-1).

Graham shot 4-of-7 from behind the 3-point arc and Thomas added 16 points for the Broncos.

Santa Clara led by as many as 12 points three minutes into the second half, but the Broncos would miss six of their first seven 3-pointers during the half.

The Rainbow Wahine went on a 22-8 run to take a 60-59 lead with 8:24 remaining.

Hawaii led by as many as four points down the stretch, but Thomas' layup with 3:24 remaining gave the Broncos a 67-66 lead in a game that saw nine lead changes.

Abele led Hawaii with 13 points, 11 in the first half. Janevia Taylor added 12 points for the Rainbow Wahine.

Hawaii jumped ahead early in the first half on nine points from Abele in the first eight minutes, and led by as many as 11, 24-13, with 9:33 remaining in the first.

But the Broncos hit six 3-pointers, including three by Tracey Walker, in the final 7:47 of the first to lead 45 -37 at the break.

The Broncos shot 9-of-20 from behind the arc in the first half but finished the game just 13-of-35 in 3-point shooting.