LIHU‘E — Keisha Kanekoa nailed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the game to force overtime, then knocked down two clutch free throws with six seconds left in the extra session to force a second overtime. All that work
LIHU‘E — Keisha Kanekoa nailed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left in the game to force overtime, then knocked down two clutch free throws with six seconds left in the extra session to force a second overtime.
All that work didn’t go for naught as the Rainbow Wahine came away with a 64-57 double-OT victory over Mississippi, Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The dramatic fourth game of the day at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Rainbow Wahine Showdown was a thriller for Hawai‘i, moving the Wahine into today’s final game against North Carolina.
Kanekoa was the game’s top scorer with 25 points on 8 of 20 shooting. She also pulled down seven rebounds, dished out three assists and had two steals.
Kamilah Jackson had a double-double for UH, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Megan Tinnin was the third Wahine in double figures with 10 points, going 3-for-7 from three-point range.
Shawna-Lei Kuehu had a rough night shooting the ball, scoring five points on 2-for-15 shooting. But she had a game-high nine assists and grabbed seven rebounds.
Pa’Sonna Hope had 12 points to lead Ole Miss, which also got 11 from Valencia McFarland. Nikki Byrd and Courtney Marbra each had 10.
Though they led 36-29 at halftime, the Wahine found themselves down 55-52 with under 10 seconds to play when Kanekoa got free at the top of the arc and knocked down the timely jumper.
Hawai‘i was held without a point for almost the entire overtime, but Kanekoa was fouled in the closing seconds and tied the game again at 57-57 with a pair from the charity stripe.
UH then played stingy defense and shut out the Rebels 7-0 in the second OT.
Neither team shot well, with UH shooting 33 percent (23 of 69) compared to 34 percent (22 of 64) for Mississippi.
In earlier action, 15th-ranked North Carolina was an 87-58 winner in the night’s first semifinal game.
Gonzaga, a one-point loser to Mississippi on Friday, was way too much for North Carolina Central, 94-52.
The day’s opener was an 87-63 win for Washington State over Long Beach State.
The third straight quadruple-header will begin with Long Beach State playing North Carolina Central at 11:15 a.m.
Washington State and Gonzaga will tangle at 1:30 p.m.
Mississippi and Illinois will then play for third place at 3:45 p.m.
Hawai‘i will close out the festivities at 6 p.m. against North Carolina.
