The University of Hawaii fought so hard to get back in the game, they forgot save a few fouls for overtime.
St. Mary’s survived a furious comeback by the Rainbow Wahine, winning 92-88 in OT in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament in Moraga, Calif.
The extra session was a battle of attrition. UH (23-9) had five players foul out, and the Gaels (21-10) shot 15 of 18 at the free-throw line.
Briana Harris scored a career-high 24 points and made three of her five 3-pointers in OT for the Wahine, who trailed by as many as 18 points in the second half. Shawna-Lei Kuehu finished with 19, including two free throws with four seconds left in regulation to tie the game.
Harris and Kuehu both fouled out, as did Ashleigh Karaitiana (12 points), Sarah Toeaina (nine) and Destiny King (eight).
Even as Harris was nailing 3-pointers in OT, St. Mary’s was going to work at the line, where it made 13 of its last 14 shots.
Kuehu’s layup cut UH’s deficit to 87-86 with 31 seconds left, but she fouled out at other end and Carly Turner made her second set of free throws in a nine-second span.
Earlier, Stella Beck converted on back-to-back trips after Harris’ final 3 tied the game 83-83 with 1:19 left.
Shannon Maulin scored 32 points and Lauren Nicholson added 23 for the Gaels, who will host Fresno State on Monday in the second round.
Kuehu scored 15 points in the second half as UH fought back after traling 50-32 with 16:07 remaining.
UH recorded it best finish since going 23-8 under Vince Goo in 1998.
Baseball
Waiakea graduate Quintin Torres-Costa pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings of relief to get the victory, and UH beat New Mexico State 6-2 in Honolulu.
Alan Baldwin keyed a three-run rally in the eighth with a run-scoring single, and the outfielder scored on Kaeo Aliviado’s double.
Baldwin also had a two-run double in the third that brought home Hilo graduate Chayce Ka’aua, who had doubled.
Ka’aua and Konawaena graduate J.J. Kitaoka were both 1 for 3.
Torres-Costa (1-3) came in after starter Tyler Brashears allowed Daniel Kennon’s one-out single to put runners on first and third.
The left-hander walked Daniel Johnson and then balked in the tying run before getting out of a bases-loaded jam with two strikeouts.
In his first appearance since March 8, Torres-Costa struck out five and walked two. He retired the side in order in the eighth and ninth.
UH (8-14) went ahead in the seventh. Eric Ramirez doubled and score on two wild pitches.
Starter Riley Barr (0-3) took the loss for the Lobos (3-15-1).
Water polo
Ioanna Haralabidis netted a hat trick, and No. 3 USC dunked No. 7 UH 10-1 in Honolulu.
Caity Lopes da Silva scored in the second quarter for the Wahine (10-6).
Sand volleyball
The duos of Brittany Tiegs and Nikki Taylor, Katie Spieler and Olivia Urban, and Hannah Rooks and Sammie Brown all went undefeated in Honolulu at the Queen of the Beach Challenge and will play for the gold bracket championship on Saturday.
