"It's a good win for us after coming off a disappointing loss at San Jose," said Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla, whose team lost to the Spartans, 54-49, in overtime on Saturday. "It's a good team win. This kind of puts us back into the mix in the conference."

Hawai'i's 11-day road trip is considered the longest and one of the toughest this season. Tomorrow, Hawai'i (6-5 overall, 2-2 WAC) will play conference-leader Louisiana Tech (9-4, 5-0).

Sanders finished with 16 points with a career-high four 3-pointers. Teammate Alofa Toiaivao added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Janielle Dodds scored 16 points for SMU.

Hawai'i — which trailed by as many as eight points in the second half — erased a 53-47 deficit with a 14-2 run capped by Sanders' back-to-back 3-pointers to surge ahead 61-55. Abele started the run by scoring eight consecutive points, including a 3-pointer that tied the score at 55.

"We ran a couple of plays specifically for Jade and Amy," Bolla said. "They got the looks, took the shots and made them."

After SMU responded with 8-2 run to tie it at 63 on Katy Cobb's basket, Sanders followed with her go-ahead bucket, giving UH a 65-63 lead with 2:05 left.

Hawai'i's defense shut out the Mustangs in the final two minutes, and the Rainbow Wahine sealed the game with two baskets by Toiaivao, and a free throw by Milia Macfarlane.

Bolla said he was pleased with Abele's offensive performance. The senior co-captain entered the game averaging 12.4 points, but just 7.6 in three WAC games.

"In our pregame radio show, I said we need to get Jade back on track," said Bolla, who moved his all-conference forward to the wing last night. "I think (the position switch) gave her a little more freedom and freed up her shooting."

In the first half, Hawai'i engineered a 14-5 run capped by Pam Tambini's basket off an assist by Trisha Nishimoto for a 25-24 lead. It was Nishimoto's first assist this season. However, Dodds scored SMU's final six points as the Mustangs took a 39-31 halftime lead.