The University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team overcame a halftime deficit to defeat CSUN 63-54 on Saturday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. The Rainbow Wahine improved their record to 14-10 overall and 8-6 in the Big West Conference.
Hawai’i trailed by as many as nine points in the second quarter and entered halftime down 37-30. The team responded with a decisive 16-2 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters, turning a four-point deficit into a ten-point lead. This effort secured their eighth win in the last nine games and extended their home winning streak to six.
The defensive performance was key for Hawai’i, as they blocked 10 shots—marking their third double-digit block game this season—and held CSUN to just 17 points on 24% shooting in the second half. With this victory, Hawai’i has now won 11 consecutive games against CSUN.
Imani Perez led Hawai’i with 18 points and three blocks. Saniyah Neverson matched her career high with 17 points and set a season high with 12 rebounds, recording her first double-double for the Rainbow Wahine. Neverson and center Ritorya Tamilo also contributed three blocks each, while guard Keiara Curtis added 10 points and four assists.
For CSUN, Jite Gbemuotor scored a game-high 19 points—13 of which came in the first half—and grabbed 10 rebounds.
CSUN started strong, making five of its first six shots and building an early lead. Despite UH’s efforts to close the gap, CSUN maintained control through much of the first half before Neverson’s buzzer-beating jumper cut the lead to seven at halftime.
In the third quarter, Hawai’i held CSUN scoreless for six minutes. Perez hit a three-pointer followed by two free throws to give UH its first lead since early in the game. Teyahna Bond scored on a drive late in the period, and Neverson blocked a shot at the buzzer to preserve UH’s advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Bond then hit another three-pointer during a run that pushed Hawai’i’s lead to ten early in the final period. Curtis’ jumper increased it further before CSUN managed to reduce it only as close as six points for the remainder of play.
Hawai’i will next travel to California for games against Cal Poly on February 19 and UC Santa Barbara on February 21.
