The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team kept pace with the University of Washington in the third quarter before the Huskies eventually prevailed, 58-41, in the final of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown on Sunday at Simplify Arena in the Stan Sheriff Center.
Rainbow Wahine (2-5) trailed 25-23 at halftime and closed the gap to three points with three minutes left in the third quarter. However, Washington (7-0) scored seven straight points at the end of the quarter and extended its lead in the fourth quarter to seal the game.
University of Houston guard MeiLani McBee hit back-to-back three-pointers in the second half and connected on a pair of three-pointers to help the Rainbows maintain the lead, scoring a team-high 12 points in the game. Guard Lily Wahinekapu scored nine points and backup guard Olivia Davies hit two 3-pointers and contributed seven points.
Washington got a Husky-high 19 points from Daraya Daniels on 7-of-11 shooting and 10 points from Sevia Sellers.
UW averaged 80 points on the night, shooting 46 percent overall and 8-of-13 (61.5 percent) from the field in the third quarter.
The University of Houston's offense came primarily from long range, as eight of their 13 outside shots came from the three-point line, accounting for 32 of their 47 total attempts.
McBee opened the game with a three-pointer and hit a three-pointer from the corner to give Houston a 6-2 lead. Wash U hit two three-pointers to take its first lead of the game before Wassinkup added a three-pointer to put Wash U back on top 9-8.
UW led 15-12 after the first quarter and pulled to within 22-14 before a 7-0 run by Wash U. Center Brooklyn Rewers hit a three-pointer from the high post and Davis followed with a three-pointer from in front of the rim.
Wisconsin didn't allow the Huskies to make a field goal for more than six minutes until Washinecup scored under the basket with 14 seconds left in the half to tie the game at 23-23.
McBee hit her third three-pointer with 7:55 left in the third quarter to cut Harvard's deficit to one, and Davis hit her second three-pointer to extend Harvard's lead to 34-31. however, the 6-foot-4 Daniels scored in the lane, Jaida Noble hit a three-pointer, and Sellers scored just before the whistle to give WashU a 43-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Daniels and Sellers contributed all of Washington's fourth-quarter points as the Huskies extended their lead. McBee hit his fourth personal three-pointer with 7:27 left in the game to cut the Huskies' deficit to 46-38, but Daniels scored on a layup and Sellers hit a three-pointer to seal the win for the Huskies.
Idaho State defeated Air Force 55-52 in Sunday's early game. Idaho State and Air Force both went 1-2 in the tournament, while UW finished the Oahu weekend with a 3-0 record.
Houston will face San Jose State on Dec. 3 at SimpliFi Arena Stadium in the Stan Sheriff Center in the first of a two-game home stand of six games.