The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team’s home winning streak came to an end on Saturday as they were defeated by Long Beach State in an overtime thriller. This loss marked the first home conference defeat for Hawaii since 2023, ending their 13-game winning streak. Despite being preseason favorites to win the conference championship again, Hawaii stumbled in front of their home crowd at SimpliFi Arena.
Savannah Tucker led Long Beach State to victory with 23 points, including six in overtime. Patricia Chung and JaQuoia Jones-Brown also made key contributions for the Beach in the win. Hawaii’s Lily Wahinekapu led her team with 20 points but was unable to secure the victory.
Coach Laura Beeman remained positive after the loss, stating that the team would bounce back. However, she acknowledged that Long Beach State outperformed Hawaii in several key areas, such as scoring in the paint and on fast-break opportunities.
Despite a late rally to force overtime, Hawaii was unable to secure the win, with missed free throws and key baskets by Long Beach State sealing the victory. Ritorya Tamilo stood out for Hawaii with 14 points, nine rebounds, and six blocked shots.
Hawaii will look to bounce back in their next game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on December 16. Despite the defeat, the team remains focused on their goal of winning the conference championship and returning to the NCAA Tournament.
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