"We needed a win," Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla said. "We just need to get some momentum into the WAC Tournament."

Hawai'i (11-13 overall, 7-10 WAC) will play Nevada (7-20, 3-14) again in the first round of the WAC Tournament, Tuesday through Saturday, in Reno, Nev. Hawai'i's chances to earn a first-round bye in the tournament were dashed when Fresno State defeated visiting San Jose State last night.

"We're locked into the seventh position," Bolla said. "Right now, it looks like we'll play Reno again in the play-in game on Tuesday."

Last night, Hawai'i led by as many as 13 points twice during the second half and took a 39-26 advantage midway through the half. Nevada rallied and closed to four points on four occasions — the last at 56-52 on Amber Young's 3-pointer with 46 seconds remaining — but that's as close as it would get.

Sanders sealed the game by making 6 of 6 free throws, and Nevada could only muster one basket by April Bankston with 21 seconds remaining.

Hawai'i converted 21 of 26 free throws in the game, including 11 of 12 in the final 1:16. Nevada sank 8 of 11 for the game.

Hawai'i's Jade Abele scored 12 points and Alofa Toiaivao added 11. Bankston led Nevada with 17 points.

After being challenged by Bolla last week to produce more, Hawai'i post players Brittany Grice and Toiaivao combined for 18 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks.

"They played better," Bolla said. "We actually got a good all-around performance from everybody. It was a good team effort. We got a lot of people in."

The Rainbow Wahine gained extra motivation from a comment made by Nevada's Megan McGuire in yesterday's Reno Gazette-Journal that said Hawai'i's post players were "big, but they're slow so you have to go by them, don't let them block your shot." McGuire shot 3 of 19 from the field before fouling out with 11 points.