The UC Irvine Women’s Basketball team (15-3, 7-0) held on to the top spot of the Big West Conference standings after defeating the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine (6-10, 4-3) 71-67 at the Stan Sheriff Center on Thursday, Jan. 19.
The momentum of the game was set by the Anteaters straight from the opening tip. Irvine’s offense played patiently while passing the ball to one another inside the paint to penetrate defenders and dished it back out for an open shot.
Hawaii graduate forward Kallin Spiller muscled the Anteater’s in-and-out in the key, allowing herself easy access to the basket.
Physicality assisted both teams in scoring, but a collision between the Eaters’ sophomore guard Olivia Williams and Hawaii’s sophomore forward Nnenna Orji resulted in UCI losing Williams for the rest of the match due to injury.
As the game resumed, the Rainbow Wahine found their offensive spark after their sophomore guard Daejah Phillips dribbled down the baseline, baited two defenders and dropped a dime to wide-open teammate Orji for two.
Irvine bounced back in the second quarter, staying consistent with screening and boxing out opponents. On the other side of the court, Hawaii dug themselves a hole after multiple wasted possessions. Toward the end of the quarter, Hawaii players minimized their passes, which resulted in reckless shots.The first half of the game ended with UCI ahead, 31-21.
The Rainbow Wahine entered the second half with a handful of subs to prevent any starters from further foul trouble. However, the intensity level rose once they stepped onto the court. The audience echoed through the gym for Hawaii after they got a dose of sophomore guard Lily Wahinekapu’s back-to-back baskets, reading the defense carefully to drive to the rim strong.
Irvine noticed the uplift in their opponents’ performance and quickly matched their energy. The Anteaters kept the Rainbow Wahine at a double-digit deficit at the end of the third quarter, 44-33.
Ready to take control in the fourth quarter, Hawaii’s defensive pressure increased, allowing them to dump in six straight points before Irvine junior forward/center Nevaeh Parkinson banked in a jump shot off the glass from the top of the key to end the run. The Rainbow Wahine successfully relied on high-low action as the Irvine defense seemed to forget about the opposing post camping below the basket.
The Anteaters’ mistakes caused damage to the scoreboard —fouls turned into easy points, cutting the Anteater lead to 47-45 with four minutes remaining.
As the time died down, Wahinekapu had the gym echoing, following a bucket that gave Hawaii their first lead of the match. The guard faked out her defender with a hesitation dribble, then headed straight for the basket for a lay-up, putting the Rainbow Wahine ahead 52-51 with two minutes to spare.
The Rainbow Wahine found themselves with the ball on the last possession of the game down by two points. Hawaii’s graduate guard McKenna Haire attempted a three-point shot with just seconds to spare but missed. However, Wahinekapu swooped in from under the basket to collect the rebound and go right back up for the foul. Wahinekapu added the last two crucial points to send the game into overtime tied at 56-56.
Irvine racked up six points two and a half minutes in, including a mid-range jumper from junior guard Diaba Konate alongside her locked-in defense.
A back-and-forth battle of free throws from both teams, and a clutch three-point shot from the Eaters’ sophomore guard Amelia Scharpf, ended in Irvine closing the game with a 71-67 victory.
Sophomore guard Hunter Hernandez led the Anteaters in scoring with 19 points and seven rebounds. Phillips and Wahinekapu led Hawaii with 13 points and 12 points, respectively.
The Anteaters returned home to the Bren Events Center for a matchup against Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. and were defeated 66-64.
Jazlyn Flores is a Sports Staff Writer. She can be reached at jazlynpf@uci.edu.
