Freshman Bailey Flavell recorded her first career double-double as the University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team secured a 64-52 victory over CSU Bakersfield on Thursday at the Icardo Center in Bakersfield, California.
The Rainbow Wahine, now 9-9 overall and 3-5 in Big West play, built a 27-point lead in the third quarter. However, CSU Bakersfield responded with a run that narrowed the gap to seven points late in the fourth quarter. Hawai’i held its opponent scoreless for the final 1:56 and increased its lead through free throws to earn its third consecutive win and their first road victory this season.
Flavell matched her season high with 22 points, shooting 7-for-16 from the field and converting seven of eight free throws. She collected her tenth rebound with eight seconds left, marking only the second double-double for Hawai’i this season.
Another freshman, Keiara Curtis, scored 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting. She set a personal best with nine rebounds and tied her season high with four assists. Senior Saniyah Neverson contributed nine rebounds and eight assists.
Scoring was limited early; Hawai’i led 10-7 after one quarter. Flavell had four early points, and Rebecca Moors made a three-pointer as part of an early run.
CSU Bakersfield briefly took a two-point lead in the second quarter before Flavell scored seven straight points for Hawai’i. The visitors led by seven at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 13-0 run capped by a Curtis three-pointer. The margin grew to as much as 54-27 before CSU Bakersfield closed out the third period on a nine-point streak.
In the fourth quarter, CSU Bakersfield extended their run to cut Hawai’i’s lead to thirteen before Perez hit a three-pointer for UH and Neverson added another basket inside. This would be Hawaiʻi’s last field goal; CSU Bakersfield continued to close but could not overtake them as Curtis and Flavell combined for five free throws in the final minutes. With this result, Hawai‘i has now won twelve consecutive games against CSU Bakersfield.
The Rainbow Wahine will continue their road trip on Saturday against CSUN at Premier America Credit Union Arena in Northridge, California. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Pacific Time (11 a.m. Hawaii Time).
