Hartford capitalized on a slow start by the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine to take a 76-63 win in the semifinals of the Jack In the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic last night at the Stan Sheriff Center. According to a
Hartford capitalized on a slow start by the University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine to take a 76-63 win in the semifinals of the Jack In the Box Rainbow Wahine Classic last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
According to a press release from the University of Hawai‘i, the loss drops to 3-2 on the season. With the loss, Hawai‘i will play for third place for the third straight year when they face Minnesota starting at 3:20 this afternoon.
The Rainbow Wahine fell behind early in the contest and could never recover in its loss.
Hartford (5-1), making its second Rainbow Wahine Classic appearance, will face Virginia in the tournament championship game today starting at 5:30 p.m.
The energized Hartford squad prevented the Rainbow Wahine from its attempt to advance to the Classic championship for the first time in eight years.
Hawai‘i missed its first nine shots from the field and never got into a rhythm throughout the game.
Hartford scored the first nine points of the contest and never looked back, maintaining a double-digit lead for much of the game.
Danielle Hood scored a game-high 17 points for the Hawks who shot 52 percent from the field.
Freshman Keisha Kanekoa led UH with 15 points, six rebounds and five steals while sophomore Megan Tinnin added a dozen points.
Tanya Smith, Hawai‘i’s leading scorer and rebounder, was held to just six points and two rebounds by the Hawks. This was the first time in five games this season the senior post player did not record a double-double.
Hartford, coming out of the American East Conference and an NCAA Tournament participant for two of the last three years, shot 58 percent in the first half, building a lead by as much as 16 points.
Hawai‘i cut the lead down to as close as six points but Hartford scored 10 unanswered points.
Courtney Gomez banked in a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half to give the Hawks a comfortable 41-30 lead.
In the second half, Hawai‘i couldn’t get closer than nine points while the Hawks stretched a lead to as much as 19 points.
Overall, the Rainbow Wahine was 23 percent from beyond the three-point arc and 38 percent (8-of-21) from the free throw line.
Other Day Two results saw UAB get past Lipscomb, 67-51, Texas was a 72-60 winner over Kentucky, and Virginia took a 73-62 edge over Minnesota.
Brittainey Raven scored 17 points to lead No. 21 Texas to a 72-60 victory over Kentucky, yesterday.
Ashley Lindsey added 16 points for Texas (3-2). Samantha Mahoney scored 12 points for Kentucky (2-3). Sarah Elliott added 11, and Victoria Dunlap had 10.
Texas led 31-24 at halftime after both teams struggled from the field. Texas shot 34 percent in the first half and Kentucky shot 29 percent. But Texas picked it up in the second half, shooting 59 percent.
