Wahine rebound after rough start to beat Bakersfield

Needing two wins this week to stay in contention for an important top-four finish in the Big West, the Hawaii women’s basketball team faced a bit of a gut check at halftime on Thursday.

After a disappointing slow start that led to a halftime deficit against a Cal State Bakersfield team with but two wins in conference play, the Rainbow Wahine pulled through in a physical 61-54 win in front of a crowd of 804 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Saniyah Neverson and Ritorya Tamilo led four Hawaii players in double figures with 13 points and Tamilo added six rebounds and three blocks in 18 minutes off the bench.

Tamilo was 9-for-10 from the free-throw line to help Hawaii finish with a season-high 25 made free throws on 86.2% shooting. The teams combined to commit 44 fouls and attempt 46 free throws in a physical battle.

“I thought we had great fight, particularly in the second half,” Hawaii coach Laura Beeman said. “We dug ourselves a big hole, not quite sure why we opened up that way, but our energy was pretty bad.”

Hawaii, which improved to 13-10 overall and 7-6 in BWC play with its seventh win in eight games, trailed after each of the first three quarters before closing the game on a 17-4 run. Bailey Flavell, who finished with 12 points, splashed a 3-pointer from the right wing in front of the UH bench with 17 seconds remaining to ice the game.

UH scored 23 points off 18 turnovers forced.

“Like (Coach) Beeman said, we kind of separated from ourselves there in the beginning a little bit, so once we came together as a team and started picking each other up, I think that helps us stay on the right path,” Neverson said.

Chrishawn Coleman and Marley Langi had 16 points each to lead the Roadrunners (7-17, 2-12), who opened the game on a 10-0 run in the first three-and-a-half minutes, prompting a quick timeout from Beeman.

UH took a quick 3 on its opening possession and turned the ball over twice during the opening run.

Hawaii’s starting unit failed to score in the first quarter as CSU Bakersfield took a 15-8 lead.

UH shot 2-for-9 from the field with eight turnovers and got six of its eight points from Tamilo, who at 6-foot-5 was unstoppable in the paint with three rebounds in five minutes.

“I just though we needed an energy boost,” Tamilo said. “I was hoping to bring that, which I did.”

Tamilo didn’t play for close to eight straight minutes in the second quarter, but Hawaii was able to cut into the deficit.

Neverson’s two free throws gave UH its first lead at 24-23 before the Roadrunners made five consecutive free throws.

Tamilo, who checked back in with 39 seconds remaining, grabbed an offensive rebound and made one of two free throws in the final seconds to make it a 30-26 CSUB lead at the half.

Hawaii led by as many as five in the third quarter but trailed 48-44 entering the final 10 minutes after a 3-pointer and jumper by Langi put the Roadrunners back in front.

Maria Dias opened the fourth quarter with a layup to put CSUB ahead 50-44 before UH’s closing run put the game away.

“Definitely surprising,” Beeman said about the start to the game. “I thought the energy in shootaround today was extraordinary and pregame meal was great and I thought they felt ready to go,” Beeman said. “I felt like pregame was a little flat, I’ll be honest with you. I’m not sure why. For whatever reason someone comes out and punches you in the nose a little bit and you just have to rebound.”

Hawaii will close out the homestand on Saturday against Cal State Northridge (8-14, 4-9) before playing four of its final six regular-season games on the road.