LONG BEACH, Calif. — University of Hawai‘i junior forward Amy Atwell propelled her team to a complete sweep of Big West Conference foe Long Beach State Friday and Saturday afternoon at the Walter Pyramid Arena.
Atwell scored 25 points Friday night and followed up that performance with 23 points on Saturday, leading her team to two critical BWC victories and singlehandily moved Hawai‘i up in the conference standings.
The Wahine (7-6, 6-5) won 76-73 Saturday in overtime and 77-75 Friday, and are now in fourth place in the conference headed into their conference finale with UC Davis.
Winning both games wasn’t easy for the Wahine.
The team endured 14 ties and 13 lead changes in Saturday’s contest, and Hawai‘i went into halftime with just a 39-37 advantage.
The 49ers were able to outscore the ‘Bows 17-9 in the third period to establish momentum going into the fourth period.
Atwell once again rallied the team in the fourth quarter, netting a three-point basket to tie the game at 69 and sent the game into overtime.
The game remained tied in overtime at 73 when Kelsie Imai hit a basket to make the score 75-73, and Kasey Neubert hit a free throw with nine seconds left to ice the game, 76-73.
Imai finished the game with 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Neubert finished with 14 points, and Jadynn Alexander finished with 10.
In Friday’s competition, Nnenna Orji and Daejah Phillips both supported Atwell’s efforts to propel the Wahine to victory.
Hawai‘ shot 47% from the field during the game, and 33% percent from three-point range to get the critical victories.
The Wahine play their season finales at home to host UC Davis at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
