HONOLULU - The UC Irvine women's basketball team fell to Hawai'i, 67-57, in a battle for first place in the Big West Saturday at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
 
The match-up lived up to the billing in the first half where the Anteaters and Rainbow Wahine went back-and-forth before heading into the locker room in a 35-35 tie. UH then created some separation in the final 20 minutes as it outscored UCI, 32-22, for the 10-point victory.
 
The 'Bows shot 48% (20-42) overall and 53% (8-15) from beyond the arc, while the 'Eaters finished the game at 34% (20-59) and 35% (9-26) respectively. Hawai'i also held a lopsided advantage in free throws where it was 19-of-24 compared to UC Irvine's 8-of-11.
 
BY THE NUMBERS: Kayla Williams led UCI with 21 points, four assists and two steals. Williams made a season-high four 3-pointers on 57% shooting from deep. Jayde Cadee also knocked down four threes for 14 points, while Sophia Locandro finished with nine points and four boards. Hunter Hernandez chipped in six points and a team-best five rebounds.
 
Amy Atwell led the Rainbow Wahine with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: UC Irvine (15-10, 10-4 Big West) got out to a quick start with Cadee's first 3-pointer of the afternoon coming just 12 seconds into the game. It then went back-and-forth before Hawai'i used an 8-2 spurt to pull ahead, 14-8, at the 5:09 mark. The Rainbow Wahine stayed out front and took a 25-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Anteaters responded in the second with a 15-2 run, capped by a layup from Williams, to go on top, 31-27, with 4:03 remaining in the half. Cadee also had back-to-back threes during that stretch. The 'Bows punched right back with seven unanswered, all coming from Atwell, but the 'Eaters kept it close and knotted the score at 35-35 on a Nikki Tom layup at the buzzer.
 
Hawai'i (13-9, 9-3 Big West) scored the first nine points of the third period and kept a 49-40 cushion at the 5:25 mark before UC Irvine answered with an 8-1 rally to cut the deficit to two. UH then scored the final bucket for a 53-48 advantage.
 
The 'Bows kept the momentum in the fourth frame, outscoring the Anteaters, 11-2, over the first six-plus minutes for a 64-50 lead. Despite holding the Rainbow Wahine without a field goal over the last four minutes, the 'Eaters were unable to make a final run in the 67-57 loss.
 
UP NEXT: UC Irvine is back in the friendly confines of the Bren Events Center next Thursday, Feb. 24, when it hosts Cal State Fullerton at 7 p.m.
 
 
NOTES
• With four games remaining, UC Irvine is tied for second with Long Beach State in the Big West standings at 10-4.
• Hawai'i moved back into first with a 9-3 conference record.
• Kayla Williams had her fourth 20-point game of the season and ninth of her career.
• Williams has scored 17+ points in five-straight outings.
• She also extended her streak of consecutive games played with a 3-pointer made to 38.
• With her four threes today, Williams now has 50 on the season, tying her for ninth in school history.
• Jayde Cadee registered her 33rd career game with multiple 3-pointers made.
• In the last three games, Cadee is 10-for-19 (53%) from behind the arc.