HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The University of Hawaii women’s basketball team’s memorable season ended in Baton Rouge after the team lost 73-50 to LSU in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
UH didn’t go down without a fight, Hawaii tried to get fast on LSU early on and led two in the first quarter, but the Tigers had an answer, LSU was up 35-22 at halftime.
“We turned the ball too much at times and some of it was just nervous or self-inflicted,” UH head coach Laura Beeman told Hawaii News Now. “I thought we fought incredibly well on the board, we missed open shots, they hit open shots.”
“That’s sometimes the difference between your top-level teams and teams that aren’t. and unfortunately some of those candid looks that we had just didn’t please.”
UH trailed 15 halfway through the Big West Championship, the ‘Bows tried to make another comeback but it wouldn’t be their night, final score 73-50.
“It was a really cool experience playing against some of the best girls in the nation,” said UH Warden Lily Wahinekapu. “I feel like this game, I’ve learned a lot from this game and what I need to work on.”
“I think we played really well today,” UH guard Daejah Phillips said. “We could have caught some open shots they took, it probably would have been a closer game. I think we fought until the buzzer sounded and I’m very proud of that.”
LSU’s Angel Reese scored a whopping 34 points while UHs Kallin Spiller and Daejah Phillips lead the team with 13 points each.
“Hats off to LSU,” UH forward Kallin Spiller said. “They are a super great program that will come through in this tournament and I’m really proud of what our team was able to show today.”
Although dressed all in green, the Irish luck was not on their side. Hawaii’s unlikely season ends with an 18-15 record and back-to-back Big West Conference championships.
The team returns to the islands Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Hawaii time and invites fans to greet them at the SimpliFi Arena at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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