The Hawaii Women’s Basketball team opened the new year at home against UC Riverside, facing a strong performance from the Highlanders. Spectrum News reported that 5-foot-10 guard Hannah Wickstrom scored a career-high 36 points, leading UC Riverside to a 65-58 win over the Rainbow Wahine. Wickstrom’s standout performance was noted as the top effort on the court, despite Hawaii also featuring several Australian players.
KHON2 described a back-and-forth matchup with UC Riverside. The Rainbow Wahine initially led, but Hannah Wickstrom took over in the second quarter, outscoring the entire Hawaii team and helping the Highlanders secure a 65-58 victory. Hawaii’s Keiara Curtis led her team with 17 points, but the Wahine were unable to recover in the fourth quarter.
Hannah Wickstrom noted a personal edge in facing her Australian counterparts at Hawaii, telling Spectrum News, “It's definitely more personal for me, because there are a lot of Australians at this school.” Her previous encounters with some of the Hawaiian players appeared to fuel her strong performance at the Stan Sheriff Center. Despite the loss, Hawaii freshman guard Keiara Curtis scored a season-high 17 points, showing potential for future games.
UC Riverside’s full-court pressure and ability to capitalize on Hawaii turnovers at key moments contributed to their win. UH coach Laura Beeman noted the team lost momentum after Jovi Lefotu’s injury scare in the fourth quarter and emphasized the need to maintain execution. Wickstrom’s strong performance provided takeaways for the Rainbow Wahine as they prepare for their next game against UC San Diego.
