Height and depth powered the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team to an 86-39 rout of UH Hilo in Wednesday’s intrastate exhibition at the Stan Sheriff Center.
With a significant height advantage across the board, the Rainbow Wahine held the visiting Vulcans to 12 field goals and controlled the boards in their lone dress rehearsal before their Nov. 13 opener at Grand Canyon.
A day after being named to the preseason All-Big West team, Ashleigh Karaitiana scored 12 points of her game-high 14 points in the first half and led the Wahine with eight rebounds and four assists. Center Megan Huff added 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field in 11 minutes and guard Marissa Wimbley hit two 3-pointers while finishing with 10 points and five rebounds.
Playing under the NCAA’s new timing rules with 10-minute quarters, all 12 players on UH’s active roster played at least 11 minutes and each scored at least four points. Freshman twins Lahni and Leah Salanoa both scored seven points on a combined 6-for-7 shooting.
"I think that’s the best thing about our team," Karaitiana said. "On any given day if someone’s not able to produce or score we have that many people to step up to the plate and can contribute in more ways than one."
UH coach Laura Beeman highlighted defense and rebounding among priorities entering the game and the Wahine outrebounded the Division II Vulcans 50-28, with 17 offensive rebounds contributing to 11 second-chance points.
Even with the wide margin, Beeman saw areas the Wahine will need to tighten on defense in the practices leading up to the season-opening trip to Arizona.
"We did a pretty good job on the boards. We had the size advantage, so we knew were going to, but it was what are we going to do with those rebounds," Beeman said. " I thought we did a good job of transitioning off our rebounds. Again it’s just defense. We’ve gotta fix it and we’ve gotta fix it quickly."
UH Hilo arrived in Manoa with 10 players, two at 6 feet. The Rainbow Wahine started 6-1 Kalei Adolpho in the post and the 6-foot Karaitiana on the wing, with 6-3 Huff and 6-4 Connie Morris off the bench.
UH’s length forced UH Hilo to fire from the perimeter and the Vulcans went 4-for-26 from the field in the first half.
UH Hilo scored the game’s first basket on a midrange jumper by Kimberly Schmelz, but went without another field goal until the 6:26 mark of the second quarter. By then the Wahine had opened up a 29-11 lead and Karaitiana capped the half with a steal and a pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer to give UH a 47-15 advantage at the break.
The Wahine lead swelled to 67-18 in the third quarter before Ka’u graduate Pilialoha Kailiawa hit the first of her two 3-pointers with 1:34 left in the period. Lauren Hong hit three from long range and led the Vulcans with 11 points.
"I think they’re just really balanced," UH Hilo coach David Kaneshiro said. "Offensively … we’ve come over probably for about four years. I think this is the best they’ve shot the ball from the perimeter."
UH was without sophomore forward Dalayna Sampton, who is nursing a foot injury. Freshman guard Andie Easley is no longer on the roster. Beeman said she has requested her release for personal reasons.
