Hawaii’s ‘Uhila Stars in Epic Comeback Win Over UCSB

Honolulu, Hawaii — Mia ‘Uhila delivered a career-high performance as the University of Hawaii women’s basketball team rallied from a 19-point deficit to defeat UC Santa Barbara, 65-58, on Saturday afternoon at the Stan Sheriff Center. With starting guard Lily Wahinekapu sidelined due to illness, ‘Uhila stepped up to ensure the Rainbow Wahine maintained their top position in the Big West standings.

After exchanging leads throughout the game, the Rainbow Wahine, currently sitting at 17-6 overall and 11-2 in conference play, found themselves down 26-7 in the first quarter. However, with tenacious defense and strategic shooting, the team outscored UCSB 58-32 in the remaining three quarters.

“Phenomenal,” said Hawaii head coach Laura Beeman about ‘Uhila’s standout performance. “That kid can get downhill, she hits free throws, she felt it from the outside, and with Lily under the weather, it was great to have another guard step up.”

‘Uhila scored 23 points, 15 of which came in the decisive third quarter. She hit all seven of her shot attempts in the second half and added seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals to an impressive stat line. The comeback marked the Rainbow Wahine’s 11th consecutive victory.

MeiLani McBee contributed significantly, scoring 12 points and helping to close the gap after the shaky start. Hawaii reached halftime trailing by just 11 points after a strong second quarter where they outscored the Gauchos 18-10.

The match showcased Hawaii’s adaptability and resilience. After being the last team to record a win against Hawaii on January 2, UCSB opened the game strongly, knocking down multiple three-pointers to build an early lead.

“Possessions at a time. That’s it. That’s how you have to play the game,” Beeman added, emphasizing her team’s focus on consistent play.

The Rainbow Wahine, who will face Long Beach State next week, remain a half-game ahead of UC Irvine in the Big West standings. The win sets a precedent as they aim to extend their winning streak, which is the longest during Beeman’s 13-year tenure at Hawaii.

Skylar Burke led UCSB (13-10, 7-6) with 20 points, but it was not enough to overcome Hawaii’s offensive surge. The Gauchos now look to regroup as they seek to return to form in their upcoming games.