HONOLULU — Despite some shaky execution in the second half, the Hawaii women’s basketball team pulled through to defeat Louisiana-Monroe 69-64 in its home opener on Friday afternoon.
Point guard Lily Wahinekapu put in 20 points with five rebounds and five assists, wing Daejah Phillips added 13 points and six assists and freshman center Ritorya Tamilo was a two-way force in her the Stan Sheriff Center debut with 12 points, eight rebounds, five blocked shots and three steals.
[Note: See below for more photos of Hawaii against Louisiana-Monroe.]
Tamilo, a 6-foot-5 native of Auckland, New Zealand, was touched as roughly 1,200 keiki sang "Hawaii Pono‘i" before the unusual 11 a.m. tipoff. It was "Education Day" and the mass field trip accounted for most of the 1,701 who passed through the turnstiles on the opening day of the four-team Bank of Hawaii Classic.
"It felt so good. All the little kids are so cute, I was tearing up when they were singing," Tamilo said. "But yeah, it’s just great to have them here. All the support. I just loved it."
UH (2-1), playing its first game since a two-game road trip to Oregon to open the season two weeks ago, shot 50% from the field as it showcased its deep roster that included prized additions like Tamilo. With Tamilo and Imani Perez acting as UH's rim protectors, the Wahine compiled a 38-16 edge in paint points and held ULM (3-2) to 34.6% shooting.
Tamilo, who has international playing experience, has scored in double figures in three of three games to begin her college career. She displayed deft footwork and a soft touch on offense and a knack for swats on defense. She shot 6-for-8 from the field and altered numerous Warhawk shots that she did not get a piece of.
"When we recruited her we knew we landed something really special," UH coach Laura Beeman said. "She’s not only a great basketball player but a really good teammate."
UH’s 10-point halftime lead narrowed to two by the end of the third quarter as ULM put up 25 points in the period by getting to the line repeatedly. The Warhawks twice crept within a point in the closing minutes of the game, but Wahinekapu went to a behind-the-back dribble and hit a critical step-back jumper in the paint with 38 seconds left for a 66-63 lead.
"To take their run and to not lose our composure, and to close how well we did end of game, I’m super proud of that," Beeman said.
Wahinekapu returned to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against Portland State on Nov. 9. The All-Big West guard responded with her most productive game as a senior; she sank three 3-pointers in the first half and shot 7-for-12 from field overall.
"I think our coaches put us in good positions during practice, situations like that," the Iolani alumna said of her late basket. "I did that in practice a couple weeks ago and it just translated to the game."
The senior was able to find the freshman Tamilo on pick and rolls for deep post position. Beeman noted the UH guards can throw it to Tamilo highest of any of the UH posts.
"Oh yeah, it’s very hard to play between me and her," Wahinekapu said. "We have basketball conversations on the court and still trying to figure out what she likes and what she does and where I should place the ball. So, we’re still growing on that."
The Wahine, who set a program record with a 25-for-25 outing at the free-throw line in the season opener at Portland, went just 8-for-18 at the stripe to keep the Warhawks in it. ULM converted 22 of 26 at the line.
UH had the ball up 66-64 with 32.6 seconds left when ULM went to taking fouls. Wahinekapu hit one of two and Phillips grabbed a key offensive board on the second. ULM had to take another foul on UH and MeiLani McBee hit both for a five-point lead with 18.8 seconds left that would be the final score.
In keeping with Beeman’s platooning style to begin the 2024-25 season, 12 Wahine saw action and eight scored a field goal. But in contrast to the two road games, Beeman leaned more heavily on the starters in the second half and Wahinekapu, Phillips, McBee, Imani Perez and Tamilo finished at least 27 minutes each.
The 13th-year coach emphasized afterward that the coaching staff is still tinkering with combinations and how to allot minutes.
"We tried to impress upon these guys that after Portland (a 76-65 loss in the season opener Nov. 7) we’re just still trying to figure these things out," Beeman said. "We promise we won’t coach you into a loss. There are going to be games where people get more minutes … and less minutes.
"We have to execute. If it’s not your night to execute properly, then you might be sitting more than playing. That’s the luxury of a deep team."
Senior forward Jacque David, a versatile piece in UH's Big West regular-season and tournament championships over the last three years, was not physically present at the game and was not spotted at preseason practices. UH declined to comment on her status through a team spokesperson.
Guard Jakayla Johnson led ULM with 25 points on 6-for-17 shooting from the field and 9-for-10 at the line.
Saint Mary’s edged Eastern Washington 59-57 in the tournament’s second game of the day.
Match-ups were pre-selected. UH takes on EWU (1-4) at 2:30 p.m. Sunday to conclude the tournament. The Wahine will not encounter Saint Mary's.
Note: This story has been updated with details and interviews.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.