Hawaii hits back against Long Beach State

Long Beach State got mad. Hawaii got even.

The Rainbow Wahine basketball team avenged a 16-point defeat to the 49ers and moved into a tie for second place in the Big West Conference with a 63-49 victory over Long Beach State on Saturday night.

Tempers flared late in what was a tight contest most of the way at the Stan Sheriff Center, but the Rainbow Wahine (11-13, 7-4 Big West) got the better of it. They pulled away despite 20 team turnovers and foul trouble for point guards Tia Kanoa and Courtney Middap.

Wahine and Beach players exchanged shoves with 2:04 to play after Kenna Woodfolk blocked Shanaijah Davison (14 points, 6-for-22 shooting) out of bounds. UH freshman post Myrrah Joseph — who was just about the only Wahine player to play well in a 56-40 defeat at the Pyramid the previous Saturday — and Davison were issued offsetting technicals. After a lengthy review, LBSU was issued another foul and UH netted two free throws out of it.

“I think both teams are very competitive and very fired up,” said Woodfolk, who was involved in a heated moment with LBSU at the Sheriff last year as well. “Once we get going and it’s a close game, when something big happens, our emotions come out. I think that’s really what it is. No hard feelings, not like anyone said anything after the game or anything like that. It’s just, in the moment, that’s how it is.”

No surprise the Wahine could smile about it; they look to sweep their three-game homestand against UC Irvine on Thursday.

“We haven’t been this successful in conference in a long time, since my freshman year,” senior forward Leah Salanoa said. “It’s fun, I love playing with these girls.”

Middap scored 17 points and hit a career-high five 3-pointers. Woodfolk added 12 points and Salanoa 10.

LBSU (7-17, 4-7) hit the Wahine with plenty of pressure from around midcourt and would drop back into a zone. It was at times bothersome, but coach Laura Beeman pointed to her team’s free throws (9-for-10 in the fourth quarter) and second-half rebounding (17-9) as important factors.

“We had some key moments where we were either getting offensive boards or keeping them off the boards,” Beeman said.

“The growth we had in the last five minutes was tremendous. Growing like that this time of year is what you want to do, because you want to be playing your best basketball at the end.”

Middap ended the first half with a buzzer-beating 3, her third triple, and started the third quarter with her fourth.

LBSU rallied to tie it at 42 with seven minutes left, but Middap hit her fifth trey to snap a 44-all tie and launch a 9-0 run. The Australian left to applause after fouling out with 2:35 to play.