Hawaii’s strong start too much for YSU

November 20, 2016 at 12:08a.m.

Staff report

Honolulu

Hawaii used an 18-2 run in the first half and defeated the Youngstown State women’s basketball team 72-50 at the Bank of Hawaii Classic on Friday evening at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Rainbow Wahine scored the final six points of the first quarter to go up 12-8, and they went on a 12-0 run in the second to go up 24-10.

The lead was at least a dozen for the final 25 minutes of the contest.

YSU freshman forward Mary Dunn led all scorers with 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Freshman guard Mailee Jones came off the bench to score 12 points with three assists. Aside from Dunn, YSU’s other four starters combined to go 3-for-28 from the field.

YSU shot 27.1 percent for the game, and it shot 20 percent in the first half as Hawaii built it insurmountable lead.

Olivia Crawford led five Hawaii players in double figures with 13 points, and Lahni Salanoa finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Hawaii shot 48.2 percent and went 10-for-13 from the field in the second period.

Youngstown State led 2-0 on a Dunn basket, and it led 8-6 following a Sarah Cash free throw at the 3:33 mark of the first period. Hawaii scored the last six points of the period to go up 12-8 at the first break, and Jones’ basket on YSU’s first possession of the second period made the score 12-10.

Hawaii then scored the next 12 points to take its 24-10 lead. YSU missed eight straight field-goal attempts until Dunn scored at the 4:55 mark on a nice pass from Indiya Benjamin to end the 12-0 run. The Rainbow Wahine outscored YSU 25-10 in the second period and led 37-18 at halftime.