honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:04 p.m., Wednesday, March 11, 2009

UH women fall in quarterfinals of WAC hoops tourney

Advertiser Staff

Despite a good first-half effort, the University of Hawaii women's basketball team couldn't stay with Fresno State in the second half, falling 65-50 in a quarterfinal game of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev.

The tumultuous season comes to an end for the Rainbow Wahine (8-23 overall and 4-13 in the WAC), who were coached the final month by assistant Pat Charity after head coach Jim Bolla was placed on paid leave for allegedly kicking at a player.

Megan Tinnin scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Rainbow Wahine, who trailed 33-32 at halftime but was held to 18 points in the second half.

Catherine Cho added eight points, Tara Hittle had seven points and five rebounds. Keisha Kanekoa, who scored 18 points in a 70-57 win over San Jose State Tuesday, was held scoreless, taking only one shot. She had five rebounds.

Amundsen Bailey scored 18 points; Joh-Teena Filipe had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Hayley Munro grabbed 13 rebounds for Fresno State.

The Rainbow Wahine overcame a 28-16 first-half deficit and took a 32-31 lead with on two Hittle free throws with 21 seconds left. But a Joh-Teena Filipe jumper with four seconds left put Fresno State up 33-32 at halftime.

Hittle's jumper early in the second half gave UH a 34-33 lead, which would be its last.

Fresno State went on a 14-5 surge to take a 47-39 lead. UH got as close as 47-42 on a Tinnin 3-pointer.

But 3-pointers by Jaleesa Ross (two) and Filipe helped pushed the lead to 56-45 and Fresno State stayed comfortably ahead the rest of the way.