The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team rallied around its ailing senior co-captain in its 70-49 victory over San Francisco last night in the opening round of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational.

A crowd of 426 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched the Rainbow Wahine (6-5) play without Brittany Grice, who was held out by UH coach Jim Bolla because of a herniated disc in her back.

"We really wanted to put a stamp on this game, not only for Gricey, but to please our coach, too," said UH senior point guard Janevia Taylor, who finished with 15 points, five assists and six rebounds, and was still fuming from Hawai'i's 65-62 loss to visiting Chattanooga on Dec. 16. "The last game coach said we didn't execute. We wanted to show that we can and will execute his plays."

Hawai'i will face Oklahoma State (11-1) for the title tonight at 6. San Francisco (4-9) will play Columbia (3-8) in the consolation game at 4.

Hawai'i is seeking its first preseason tournament title since the 2004 Waikiki Beach Marriott Invitational. UH has played six tournaments since then.

Grice's playing status will be a "game-time decision" today, according to Bolla. Grice said she injured her back after falling in practice a month ago and recently reinjured it in the team's last game against visiting Chattanooga.

"It's something I'm going to play through," said Grice, who is taking medication for the injury and will likely ride a stationary bike on the sidelines today to keep her back warm and loose. "I'm going to suit up. Obviously, I want to play. I hate sitting on the sidelines. I'm hoping I'll see the court."

Hawai'i set several season-highs last night, including most points scored in the first half (44), largest halftime lead (22), largest margin of victory (21), largest lead during a game (26) and best field-goal percentage in the first half (64 percent).

Hawai'i's Pam Tambini had 15 points and nine rebounds, Tanya Smith had 10 points and six rebounds, and Saundra Cariaga added 10 points. Junior guard Dominique Carter led the Dons with 10 points, and also surpassed 1,000 points for her career last night, joining 15 other USF players with the honor.

"Hawai'i did a really good job exploiting matchups with their guards and Tambini," San Francisco coach Tanya Haave said. "It was just a night where ultimately everything went right for them."

The Rainbow Wahine finished shooting 47 percent (24 of 51) after hitting 64 percent (16 of 25) in the first half. They outscored the Dons, 32-16, inside the key.

Cariaga sank three foul shots after she was fouled on a 3-point attempt to give Hawai'i a 55-29 lead, its largest of the game, with 13:20 remaining.

"It was a real good team effort," Bolla said. "We really simplified our offense. I think we only ran five plays."

Iwona Zagrobelna's layup at the halftime buzzer capped a 15-6 run and gave Hawai'i a 44-22 lead at intermission.

Hawai'i's Dalia Solia, a senior wing, replaced Grice in the starting lineup. She finished with five points and three rebounds.

OKLAHOMA STATE 86, COLUMBIA 42

Reserve Maria Cordero scored a game-high 21 points as the Cowgirls (11-1) routed the Lions (3-8).

Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley added 14 points, nine assists and four steals, and Rashidat Sadiq had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Megan Griffith led the Lions with 12 points. Columbia senior forward Becky Hogue, a 2003 Punahou alum, had six points and a team-high eight rebounds.

OKLAHOMA STATE (11-1) 39 47 — 86

COLUMBIA (3-8) 21 21 — 42

OKLAHOMA STATE—Riley 6-9 1-2 14. Sadiq 5-11 2-2 12. Hood 3-8 0-0 6. Green 3-3 3-3 9. Kollo 1-3 0-2 3. Chism 1-1 0-0 2. Sykes 2-2 0-0 4. Clardy 0-0 0-0 0. Hardeman 1-2 0-0 2. Cordero 8-14 5-6 21. Silva 1-2 0-0 2. Smith 5-8 0-0 11. Totals 36-63 11-15 86.

COLUMBIA—Browne 1-4 0-0 3. Griffith 3-10 4-5 12. Yee 1-7 0-0 2. Frazier 3-9 0-1 6. Hogue 2-11 2-4 6. Cragg 0-3 0-0 0. Henderson 0-2 0-0 0. Carcy 0-2 0-0 0. Taylor 0-0 0-0 0. Stachon 1-2 0-0 2. Gates 0-1 0-0 0. Udofia 0-2 0-0 0. Cole 2-3 0-0 4. Carfora 3-6 1-3 7. Bailey 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 16-63 7-13 42.

3-Point Goals—Oklahoma State 3-9 (Smith 1-1, Kollo 1-2, Riley 1-3, Sadiq 0-1, Hardeman 0-1, Silva 0-1). Columbia 3-21 (Griffith 2-6, Browne 1-2, Gates 0-1, Udofia 0-1, Carcy 0-2, Hogue 0-3, Cragg 0-3, Carfora 0-3). Rebounds—Oklahoma State 46 (Sadiq 10). Columbia 31 (Hogue 8). Assists—Oklahoma State 21 (Riley 9). Columbia 7 (Browne 3). Total Fouls—Oklahoma State 15. Columbia 12. Turnovers—Oklahoma State 21. Columbia 24. Blocks-Oklahoma State 7. Columbia 3. Steals—Oklahoma State 13. Columbia 11.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.