HONOLULU - Fresno State drops their four-game win streak with a three-point loss to Hawaii in the opening game of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Friday afternoon, 50-47.
Bulldogs were once again led by Mia Jacobs with 14 points and a new career-high of 18 rebounds, tacking on her fifth double-double of the season. Freshman Danae Powell went for a new season-high six points.
How it happened
The first three minutes went scoreless both ways with Fresno State missing the basket till the halfway mark of the first ten. Hawaii's McBee counted the first basket of the game with a layup. Fresno State trailed in scoring for two more minutes before Saga Ukkonen landed a deep three with 4:52 to go. 'Dogs tallied on two more, courtesy of Mia Jacobs (2-2) trip to the foul line. Danae Powell brings it to a Fresno State 7-0 run with another layup. Rainbow Warriors owned the last two baskets to hold a 9-7 lead after ten.
An 8-4 run for Fresno State once again in the first five minutes of the second period tied it up, 15-15. Bulldogs go to the bank and cash in three straight three-pointers at the hands of Mariah Elohim, Jacobs, and Ukkonen. Fresno State put up 21 points in the period to hold over Hawaii for an eight-point lead going into the half.
Fresno State shot 33% (10-33) from the field to the Rainbow Warriors 25% (9-35). Bulldogs matched the 33% from beyond the arc going 4-of-12.
It's Jacobs and Kylee Fox to start the second half, Jacobs claims her fifth double-double of the season off a 3-pointer followed by a second chance layup, and Fox adds in another two points for the 'Dogs biggest lead of the game, 13. Hawaii's Philips made a trip to the charity line three times within three minutes (3-6) to start the 'Bows scoring run. Picking up from there on out, Hawaii added eight more points in the final two minutes.
A one-point game going into the final ten was the spark of a battle on the court. Ukkonen fended the 'Bows off inthe first ten seconds of the period on a jumper in the paint. Pushing through Hawaii bounced back with a jumper from Philips, holding their first lead since their opening-made basket. Fresno State ties it up after Konstantinidou makes a trip to the line (2-2), 40-40 with 6:16 left of play. It all picked up in the final minutes of the game with a shot from beyond the arc by Elohim to cut Hawaii's lead down to three. A turnover on Hawaii's Perez for traveling opened another opportunity for a Bulldog basket.
Jacobs made her trip to the line worth it (2-2) and Fresno State found themselves within one with 13 seconds to go. Ukkonen's fifth personal foul gifted the Rainbow Warriors a trip to the foul line (2-2), 50-47. Jacobs looked to take a shot from the arc in the final second, to push into overtime.
Notable
Fresno State falls to Hawaii in the opening game of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown, 47-50
Mia Jacobs grabs her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and a new career-high 18 rebounds.
Danae Powell scored a new season-high six points and led the reserve players
With today's win, Hawaii tied the all-time meetings at 26-26
Fresno State drops to 5-2, seeing their first loss since Nov. 9
Bulldogs are 3-1 against Big West opponents this season
Fresno State shot 27% from the field (16-58), 28% from the three (6-21) and 90% from the field (9-10)
Up Next: Fresno State (5-2) will take on No. 1 UCLA (6-0) for the second game of the Rainbow Wahine Showdown at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. HT/ 2 p.m. PT.