Rainbow Wahine stumble again in loss to Lindenwood

Aleshia Jones scored 19 points and Gracy Wernli added 18 as, handing UH its second loss in two days at the American Savings Bank Rainbow Wahine Showdown at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.

Freshman Bailey Flavell led Hawaii (4-2 ) with 20 points. She also led UH with six of the team’s 21 turnovers compared to 16 for the visitors.

The Wahine went more than four minutes without scoring late in the second quarter, and were fortunate to be behind just 31-25 at halftime.

This tournament doesn’t have the big brand-name programs UH has normally scheduled in coach Laura Beeman’s 14 years. But they are quality mid-major squads, and the Wahine have eight newcomers.

“We’re playing really good teams, ” Beeman said. “We’re not going to get discouraged. They played with greater pace than we’re capable of now. Defensively we’re struggling a little bit, out of position. Offensively, perplexed, we’re not moving the ball. Some of it is (ball ) pressure. We’re playing solid veteran teams.”

The teams played evenly the first 14 minutes, and UH led 23-22 when Flavell scored with 5 :43 to go before the break.

But then the Wahine missed their next eight shots while Jones scored seven of her 13-first half points down the stretch.

Flavell led UH with nine in the first half, followed by Saniyah Neverson with five and Imani Perez with four. Ritorya Tamilo was scoreless with three rebounds in 9-plus first-half minutes off the bench in just her third game since last season. But she bounced back in the second half and finished with nine points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Perez and Neverson both also finished with nine points.

Lindenwood expanded its lead to 50-36 after three quarters, as Jones continued to score from inside and outside, and Brooke Coffey scored five points on two fast breaks in the final two minutes.

But Tamilo had begun to make her presence felt, scoring back-to-back buckets sandwiching a steal, and Hawaii had closed the margin to 56-50 with 4 :53 left.

Wernli then led a 6-2 Lions run with a 3-pointer and a free throw. Perez then scored for UH to make it 62-54, but Hawaii never got closer the rest of the way.

“After halftime I realized the energy needed to be lifted, ” Tamilo said. “We’re a very young team. … We just need to be more connected.”

Lindenwood (5-2 ) plays Vermont (6-2 ) today at noon, with Hawaii following at 2 :30 against Santa Clara (6-3 ).

Vermont, with 19 points from Keira Hanson, beat Santa Clara 63-51 in Saturday’s first game.