The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team put forth a spirited effort but ultimately fell just short in a heart-stopping 50-47 loss to Big West powerhouse UC Irvine on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the Bren Events Center in Irvine, California. In a contest defined by defensive grit and late-game drama, the Rainbow Wahine led for much of the night and held the conference’s highest-scoring team well below its usual output, only to see the Anteaters snatch victory in the final moments and extend their remarkable winning streak.
From the opening whistle, Hawai'i looked every bit the contender, holding UC Irvine—who entered the night averaging 73.5 points per game—to just 29.8% shooting from the field and a paltry 18 points in the first half. The Rainbow Wahine’s defense was especially stifling early, tallying seven blocks before halftime and limiting the Anteaters to a mere 21.4% shooting through the first two quarters. Senior forward Imani Perez set the tone immediately, sinking a jumper on the game's first possession and anchoring the paint for all 40 minutes. By the break, Hawai'i had built a 21-18 advantage, having led for over 18 minutes of the opening half.
“I thought we grew up big time. I thought defensively, we executed a great game plan,” head coach Laura Beeman told Spectrum News in a postgame interview. She noted her team’s improvement in crucial areas, saying, “We cut down on our turnovers and offensive rebounds allowed.” Hawai'i finished with just 14 turnovers and limited UC Irvine to only nine offensive boards—an impressive feat against a team known for its relentless attack.
But the Anteaters, riding a 13-game winning streak and undefeated in conference play, weren’t about to let their home record slip. UC Irvine stormed out of the locker room with a 12-0 run to open the third quarter, flipping the script and putting the Rainbow Wahine on their heels. The visitors, however, refused to fold. Bailey Flavell, a freshman guard, stopped the bleeding with her second three-pointer of the night, igniting a 14-3 surge that saw Hawai'i reclaim the lead. Perez added another three-pointer, and a timely putback by Ritorya Tamilo just before the buzzer sent the 'Bows into the fourth quarter up 35-33.
“They're a very good team. They're very well coached,” Beeman said of Tamara Inoue’s Anteaters. “They've got two dogs on that team with Wynn and Hernandez. And those two showed up big time when they needed them.” Indeed, UC Irvine’s stars delivered down the stretch. Hunter Hernandez led all scorers with 20 points, battling through a tough shooting night while being guarded primarily by Perez. Jada Wynn, meanwhile, poured in 15 points and played a pivotal role in the final minutes—none bigger than her turnaround jumper in the key with 20 seconds left, which pushed the Anteaters’ lead to three.
The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster. UC Irvine built a seven-point cushion midway through, leading 45-38 after a Hernandez triple. Yet the Rainbow Wahine clawed right back. Keiara Curtis, another standout freshman, drained a clutch three-pointer to halt the Anteaters’ run. Flavell followed with her third triple, and suddenly Hawai'i was within a point at 45-44. With just over two minutes remaining, the teams traded three-pointers—Wynn answered by Curtis—making it 48-47 in favor of the home team.
After Wynn’s late jumper extended the margin to three, Hawai'i called timeout with 5.1 seconds left, desperate for a game-tying three. But UC Irvine’s defense was relentless, denying Flavell and Curtis any clean look from beyond the arc. With the clock ticking away, Perez drove into the lane and lofted a runner, but the shot missed as time expired. “They guarded it well,” Beeman explained. “We knew we had to get a 3. I think (Perez) just kind of lost sight of where she was on the floor, and at that point, was underneath the 3-point line. Knew time was running out, and I think at that point she was trying to maybe draw some contact and get an and-1.”
Despite the heartbreaking finish, there were plenty of positives for the Rainbow Wahine. Flavell led the team with 13 points—hitting four of 13 shots and dishing out a season-high six assists with just one turnover. Curtis continued her impressive run, scoring 12 points on four-for-seven shooting from deep, marking her fifth consecutive game in double figures. Perez, the team’s senior leader, stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks, playing every minute of the contest. Guard Jovi Lefotu made her return from a knee tweak, starting and contributing four points and five rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
Statistically, the Rainbow Wahine did much right. They limited UC Irvine to its second lowest point total of the season and held the Anteaters to 23 points below their average. The defense was active, racking up eight blocked shots and keeping the game within reach despite being outscored 13-0 in points off turnovers and being on the wrong side of the free throw battle (UC Irvine went 11-for-16, Hawai'i just 4-for-5).
Yet, the loss marked Hawai'i’s fourth in a row and dropped them to 6-9 overall and 0-5 in Big West play—the first time under Beeman the team has started a conference season with five straight defeats. “Am I happy about the loss? Absolutely not,” Beeman said. “But this team is continuously getting better, and I'm OK with where we are. We've got to get a win under our belt, we will, and I think we'll probably get a nice little string going. So we’ve got to keep battling. Got to keep fighting.”
Meanwhile, UC Irvine improved to 15-2 overall and 6-0 in the Big West, notching a program-record 14th consecutive victory and remaining undefeated at home (8-0). The Anteaters showed why they sit atop the conference, but the Rainbow Wahine proved they can go toe-to-toe with the league’s elite, even on the road.
Looking ahead, Hawai'i will return to Mānoa for a crucial two-game homestand. The Rainbow Wahine face Cal Poly (3-13, 1-5) on Thursday, January 15, followed by a Saturday night matchup against UC Santa Barbara (12-2, 4-1) on January 17. Both contests are set for 7 p.m. at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center, offering a prime opportunity for the team to regroup and chase that elusive first conference win.
For now, the Rainbow Wahine can take heart in their progress and resilience, knowing that the breakthrough may just be one game away. Their next challenge awaits at home, where the crowd will be ready to lift them—and perhaps, finally, witness a much-needed victory.
