The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine's basketball season added another notch of victory last Saturday, as they took down CSUN with a stirring 64-55 win in Northridge, extending their winning streak to four games. Despite initially trailing, they pulled off a dynamic comeback that characterized their recent surge in the Big West Conference play.
According to KHON2, UH opened strong with a 19-9 lead in the first quarter, but witnessed a dramatic shift as CSUN mounted a 15-0 run in the second quarter, leaving Hawaii struggling to find the net. The Rainbow Wahine were outscored 20-3, and it seemed the momentum had drastically shifted towards the Matadors.
The game took a turn after halftime, led by freshman guard Bailey Flavell, who scored 17 points, 11 of which came in the decisive fourth quarter. A crucial moment reported by Spectrum News was UH's ability to hold CSUN scoreless for nearly nine minutes, during which the Rainbow Wahine went on a 17-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.
Coach Laura Beeman highlighted the change in game dynamics post-intermission, "I feel that really was the difference. We were able to get the ball across halfcourt with a lot more fluidity," Beeman told Spectrum News. With a renewed strategy, the team not only regained control but also maintained it to seal their win.
Complementing Flavell's performance were forwards Saniyah Neverson and Imani Perez, with a combined score of 25 points. Keiara Curtis added nine points, ending her stretch of games scoring in double digits. With this victory and refined gameplay, UH stands at an improved season record of 10-9 overall and 4-5 in conference play, turning around what was initially a five-game losing streak in the Big West.
Looking forward, the Rainbow Wahine are gearing up to host conference leader UC Irvine, hoping to topple the Anteaters and score their first win against a league heavyweight. "I think this group is confident going into that game knowing we played so well at their place," Beeman expressed her optimism about the upcoming challenge to Spectrum News.
