The University of Hawaii women's basketball team captured the Big West regular-season championship tonight with a 58-52 victory over UC Santa Barbara at Simplifi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
A balanced offensive performance and a final defensive stop before a season-high crowd of 1,607 snared UH's fifth regular-season conference title – fourth as a member of the Big West – and first since the 2014–15 season.
The win gave UH graduate student Amy Atwell the title of celebration ahead of the postgame Senior Night ceremony.
The Rainbow Vehicles finished their final home game with nine points, 11 rebounds and a career-high five assists.
Guard Olivia Davis led Vahin with 10 points and Ashley Thomas added nine as Vahin took the title from UCSB's return.
Hawaii 58, UC Santa Barbara 52, FINAL. @HawaiiWBB wins the @BigWestSports regular season championship and will be the top seed in the conference tournament. @StarAdvertiser pic.twitter.com/RzUNYJ20qI
— Jason Kaneshiro (@jasonkaneshiro) March 6, 2022
The Rainbow Vehicles (17-9, 13-3 Big West) will begin the Big West tournament with a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev. His opponent will be determined in a first-round game on Tuesday.
UCSB guard Alexis Tucker led the Gauchos (15-11, 9-8) with 14 points and center Ila Lane added 11 points and 18 rebounds. Guard Dane Miller finished with 13 after hitting two late 3-pointers, helping UCSB cut its 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to three with 1:27.
After UCSB closed at 52–49, Wahin called a timeout and Atwell scored on a drive to extend the lead to five. She then came down with a defensive rebound and Davis hit two free throws with 26.8 seconds to spare.
UH reduced the lead to 56-52 after Miller fired another 3-pointer with 20.8 seconds left, UH guard Deja Phillips scored a foul and made two more free throws. Vahin brought a stop and the ball ended up in Atwell's hands. He dribbled the clock to start the UH festivities.