LIHU‘E — It seemed the Wahine didn’t want Senior Night to come to an end, as they made sure their fans got their money’s worth in a 72-71 overtime victory over Utah State, won by Kamilah Jackson’s pair of free
LIHU‘E — It seemed the Wahine didn’t want Senior Night to come to an end, as they made sure their fans got their money’s worth in a 72-71 overtime victory over Utah State, won by Kamilah Jackson’s pair of free throws with just 0.3 seconds to play in the extra period, Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center.
On a night that honored the five graduating members of the team, it was the young Jackson who stole the show, finishing with 21 points and 19 rebounds with the biggest offensive board of the game, before the pressure-packed pair from the line for the win.
The victory assures Hawai‘i (11-17, 5-11 Western Athletic Conference) a spot in the WAC Tournament in Las Vegas, which includes the top eight teams in the standings.
Senior Megan Tinnin had 18 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Wahine, including a 5-of-8 showing from behind the three-point arc. Fellow senior Keisha Kanekoa had 13 points and five assists.
Breanna Arbuckle had nine points and 10 boards.
All five seniors got on the board, as Julita Bungaite had four points, Allie Patterson and Mai Ayabe each finishing with a pair.
Trailing 71-68, Jackson pulled the Wahine back within one with a slash to the hoop for a bucket with just 38 seconds left in overtime.
Hawai‘i then came up with a turnover after a Utah State traveling violation. Kanekoa was off the mark on her jump shot, but Jackson was there to clean the glass and got fouled by Alice Coddington, sending her to the line.
After nailing the first, Utah State called timeout to ice the young forward from Oakland, Calif.
It was to no avail, as she repeated the action for the game-winner.
Utah State (15-13, 9-6 WAC) got off to a hot start, scoring the night’s first 11 points and held its biggest lead after a Stacey Howard jumper for a 36-15 lead with 4:17 remaining in the first half.
The Wahine whittled the deficit down to 13, trailing 41-28 at halftime.
Still facing a large deficit at 60-46, UH rolled off a 14-1 run, capped by a Tinnin 3-pointer to slice the lead all the way down to a single point with 3:59 to play.
Tinnin then nailed another from long range to give UH its first lead of the night, 66-63, with 2:08 remaining.
Tied at 68-68, Kanekoa and Jackson each had shots in the closing minute, but neither found the mark, sending the game to its extra session.
Both teams will participate in next week’s WAC Tournament.
