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11/21/2025 | 11:00 A.M. HT
Nov. 21 (Fri) / 11:00 A.M. HT
LMU
HONOLULU — A closing surge helped the University of Hawai’i women’s basketball team finish off a 74-63 season-opening victory over Portland State on Tuesday at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Wahine opened a season at home for the first time since 2020 and started a season 1-0 for the first time since 2019 thanks to an 11-1 run over the final four minutes to fend off the Vikings.
For much of the decisive stretch, the ‘Bows had four true freshmen and a redshirt freshman on the floor. In the end, five UH players finished in double-figure scoring led by freshman Bailey Flavell’s 14 points. Senior Saniyah Neverson and freshman Teyahna Bond and redshirt freshman Danijela Kujovic contributed 11 points each. Kyra Webb, another freshman, added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds off the bench and sophomore Kira-May Filemu ended the night with nine points.
Flavell drove for a spinning layup on UH’s first possession of the season and the ‘Bows never trailed in the contest although Portland State remained within striking distance into the final minutes and closed to within a point at 63-62 with 3:59 left. The ‘Bows held the Vikings without a field goal the rest of the way as Flavell and Bond ignited UH’s final burst.
Bailey Flavell with the spin move for the first bucket of the season! 🌪️#GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/JVn3DDylHE
— Hawai’i Women’s Basketball (@HawaiiWBB) November 5, 2025
The game’s lone tie came at 2-2 and the ‘Bows took a 14-8 lead when Filemu dropped in the ‘Bows’ first 3-pointer of the evening. UH led 16-11 after the first quarter and opened up their largest margin of the half at 35-26 when Fiamma Serra came up with a steal and Rebecca Moors attacked the basket for a layup.
Portland State answered by converting a three-point play with two seconds left and UH took a 35-29 lead into the locker room. Filemu led the ‘Bows with seven points and xix UH players had at least four points at the break.
The UH lead grew to double digits at 46-36 midway through the third quarter but the Vikings made six of their first nine shots of the quarter and closed to 53-49 with 1:44 left. The ‘Bows got the ball back in the final seconds and worked the ball to Kujovic for a 3-pointer that gave UH a 57-49 edge heading into the fourth.
From downtown!#GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/lKSAlXv5PJ
— Hawai’i Women’s Basketball (@HawaiiWBB) November 5, 2025
Portland State went on a 7-0 run early in the fourth to close to 59-57. UH held off the Vikings, who got to within a point when Kyleigh Brown converted a three-point play for PSU’s final field goal of the game. Flavell responded with a bucket in the paint while drawing a foul.
After Kujovic denied a shot in the paint, Bond hit a runner to beat the shot clock to give UH a 67-62 lead with 2:49 remaining. Freshman Keiara Curtis’ driving layup extended the lead to nine with 1:20 left and UH closed out the win.
Full energy, full effort! #GoBows #SISTAHHOOD pic.twitter.com/1ybQW29JNB
— Hawai’i Women’s Basketball (@HawaiiWBB) November 5, 2025
Laynee Torres-Kahapea, a guard from Kāne’ohe and Punahou School, led Portland State with a game-high 22 points in her return to Hawai’i. Sophie Buzzard added 20 for the Vikings.
The Rainbow Wahine next face St. Martin’s on Nov. 13 at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center.
#HawaiIWBB