Hawai'i fought back almost an entire basketball game last night, but the Rainbow Wahine's perseverance was ultimately futile as they fell, 63-60, to Idaho. The 'Bows were scoreless in the final 2:43 after taking a 60-58 lead.

A Stan Sheriff Center crowd of 338 watched the Western Athletic Conference game, which was stopped 30 minutes in the second half by a blackout.

The freak blackout and frustrating result was fitting for a Hawai'i team that dropped to 6-21 — the most losses in program history. It comes near the end of a season where UH head coach Jim Bolla is on indefinite paid leave after allegations that he tried to kick a player.

UH is 3-11 in the WAC, and in eighth place. Idaho (12-13, 9-5), with former Rainbow Wahine assistant Jon Newlee in his first year as coach, is in third. The Vandals won just eight conference games the previous three seasons combined.

The Rainbows did not think they should have won this one.

"We definitely had our shots in there, we just couldn't score," said Pat Charity, who is 1-4 since taking over as acting UH coach Feb. 13. "We didn't execute what we needed to execute. I told our players I felt like I didn't calm them down enough to get them to be decisive."

Idaho tied the game at 60 when Derisa Taleni drove untouched for one of the Vandals' many layups — they shot 49 percent from the field. Rachele Kloke, who had a game-high 20 points, scored what proved to be the winning points on two free throws with 1:48 to go. She added another with :05 showing and missed the second, but Hawai'i could not get a shot off.

"A lot of mad scrambles, a lot of loose balls," Newlee said. "I think both teams were playing extremely hard wanting to win. It got crazy in the last few minutes. We executed a couple of our plays the way we wanted to and got to the free-throw line. That's what we needed to do."

The Rainbow Wahine missed their last seven shots, and a great opportunity when Idaho's Yinka Olorunnife missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with :08 left, only to have teammate Shaena-Lyn Kuehu grab the rebound. The Punahou graduate had 11 points and five rebounds for the Vandals and it was barely enough.

"When we first came back after the lights went out we weren't talking and playing defense," said Kuehu, who hadn't been home since August. "We were just all over the place."

The 'Bows made the most of it. After trailing for all but the first minute of each half, they scored nine straight points after the blackout to take a 56-54 lead with 5:12 remaining, on Keisha Kanekoa's layup. There were three more ties.

Kanekoa led Hawai'i with 16 points, six steals and five assists. Freshman Breanna Arbuckle finished with 14.

A year ago, Kuehu and her twin sister Shawna-Lei helped Punahou to its third state championship in four years. Shawna-Lei, a two-time State Player of the Year, committed to Cal but is back home training and talking about coming to UH.

"I don't know if she's going to go to UH or not," Shaena-Lyn said. "I kind of went away so I wouldn't have to play against her. ... But I'm ready for it now."

The Rainbow Wahine play Boise State in their final home game, tomorrow at 5 p.m. Seniors Tara Hittle, Catherine Cho and Ebony Jones will be recognized after the game. Hittle has not played the last two games after injuring her knee.

UH's final regular-season game is next Saturday at Reno, Nev., where the WAC Tournament begins March 10.

PACWEST WOMEN

BYUH 96, CHAMINADE 58

Latoya Wiley had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and four teammates scored in double figures as the Seasiders (13-11, 6-5) rolled past the Silverswords (0-24, 0-11) in a Pacific West Conference game at Cannon Activities Center in La'ie.

Madison Kite added 12 points, Dara Tompkison and Amanda Watts 11 each, and Richelle Fenenbock 10 for BYUH, which led 47-27 at halftime. Samantha Saito scored 16 points to lead the Silverswords.

HPU 70, UH-HILO 64

Tiffany Wilson scored 22 points and Rhani Kaneaikala added 14, helping the Sea Warriors (12-13, 7-4) beat the Vulcans (13-13, 5-7) in a PacWest game at McCabe gym.

Amanda Adams scored 20 points, and Hina Kimitete and Jessica Hanato each added 11 for UH-Hilo.

PACWEST MEN

BYUH 109, CHAMINADE 104

Lucas Alves scored 28 points and four teammates finished in double figures as the third-ranked Seasiders (22-1, 11-0) held off the Silverswords (14-10, 7-4) in a Pacific West Conference game at Cannon Activities Center in La'ie.

Nathan Simms and Marques Whippy each added 17 points, Trenson Akana had 15 and Virgil Buensuceso 14 for BYUH. Jamar Berry had 21 points and Cartier Carter 19 for the Silverswords.

UH-HILO 101, HPU 76

Jay DeMaestri scored 23 points, Jacob Briggs added 19 and the Vulcans (13-11, 6-5) took a 39-28 halftime lead in beating the Sea Warriors (9-14, 3-8) in a PacWest game at McCabe gym.

Perry Baggett had 16 points, John Smith 12 and Brandon Price 10 for UHH. Jeff Ingram scored 17, Rishi Kakad 12 and Mike Helton 10 for HPU.