The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team is getting hot at the right time.
The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team is getting hot at the right time.
Olivia Crawford took over, collecting career-highs of 21 points and eight rebounds Tuesday, and UH and extended its winning streak to four games and advanced to the Big West tournament quarterfinals with a convincing 71-50 win over Cal Poly at Long Beach State’s Walter Pyramid.
The sixth-seeded Rainbow Wahine (12-17) will take on third-seeded Northridge at 4 p.m. Hawaii time. The tournament shifts to the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., for the semifinals (March 10) and championship game (March 11).
Briana Harris added 18 points and converted all three of her attempts from 3-point range.
Hannah Gilbert led all scorers with 23 points for Cal Poly (11-18).
The Rainbow Wahine shot 48 percent from the field, hitting 23-of-48 attempts including 10-of-22 3-pointers. Cal Poly, meanwhile, became the third UH opponent to come up empty from 3-point range this season, going 0-for-11. The Mustangs shot 32 percent from the field overall.
Hawaii dominated the glass, with a 42-31 advantage. Crawford’s eight rebounds led the ‘Bows, while Lahni Salanoa added seven and Sarah Toeaina finished with six.
UH, which swept the season series with the Mustangs, led 28-21 at halftime and extended its lead to double-digits midway through the third quarter and took a 14-point cushion into the final period.
The Rainbow Wahine will look for revenge against the Matadors, who swept the regular-season series with UH led by Big West Player of the Year Channon Fluker.
• Dana Thomsen tossed a one-hit shutout and home runs by Angelique Ramos, Callee Heen and Heather Morales carried the Wahine to a 3-0 victory against Toledo, and Brittany Hitchcock pitched a complete game as UH (10-8) completed the sweep of the Rockets (7-13) with a 6-1 win.