Box Score

HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i junior point guard Keisha Kanekoa drove the length of the court and hit the game-winning jumper with 3.3 seconds left Tuesday night as UH beat Kent State, 54-53 in the Waikiki Beach Marriott Showdown at the Stan Sheriff Center.

 

The Rainbow Wahine improve to 5-7 on the year and wrap up their non-conference schedule Wednesday night against Kent State at 7 p.m.

 

After leading for most of the second half, UH led 50-49 with 1:35 left in the game when Kanekoa hit two free throws for a 52-49 lead. Kent State's Jamilah Humes made a layup with 1:25 left to cut the lead to one.

 

After a UH turnover, Kent State had the ball and Humes was fouled with 10 seconds left. Humes knocked down two free throws to give the Golden Flashes a 53-52 lead. Kanekoa then took the inbounds pass and dribbled the length of the floor, coming off one screen and hitting a 10-foot jumper.

 

Overall, Kanekoa had 19 points and four rebounds. Breanna Arbuckle had eight points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots and Leilani Galdones had 14 points.

 

In the first half, UH played excellent defense, holding Kent State to 24.2 percent shooting from the field, while hitting four 3-pointers to lead 28-26 at the break.

 

Galdones led the way offensively with two 3-pointers and 12 points overall. Kanekoa had seven points and Arbuckle had seven rebounds and five blocked shots in the first half.

 

The two teams face each other for a second time Wednesday night, in the final game of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Showdown at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.