HENDERSON, NEV. — In this desert suburb, the 91直播 women’s basketball team found an oasis of clutch moments.
Teyanha Boyd came off the bench to spark a 10-0 run at the end of the second quarter.
Jovi Lefotu, playing with a large brace to protect a second comeback from knee surgery, scored eight points in a row — two 3s and a twisting jumper — to extend the Wahine’s lead to 10 points at the end of three quarters.
And freon-veined Bailey Flavell cooly hit the tying 3 to force overtime and then made big shots in extra play as fourth-seeded Wahine knocked off No. 1 UC Irvine 67-63 in the semifinals of the Big West Championships. The Wahine will meet UC San Diego in today’s title game at Lee’s Family Forum.
“I’m proud of our group,” UH coach Laura Beeman said. “We had three kids who (scored) in double figures and three people who were at nine. It’s really hard to beat a team that plays team ball. Just incredibly proud of their grit. This is who we’ve been all year long. Even when we were 0-5 to start the year (in Big West play), this group never stopped working, they never stopped believing, they never stopped the next-play mentality, they never stopped grinding.”
There were times when the Wahine’s resolve was tested. UCI’s Hunter Hernandez, the league’s most valuable player, rebounded from 1-for-7 shooting in the first quarter. Curling off screens to the top of the key, Hernandez would drive or fire away. She hit four 3s and made 13 free throws in a row before her only miss. Hernandez finished with 33 points.
In the fourth quarter, the Anteaters took a 60-57 lead when Jada Wynn scored on a driving layup that capped a 54.9-second possession that was extended because the shot clock was reset to 20 seconds following three UH fouls.
“I think we fouled one more time than we should’ve just because we allowed the clock to reset,” Beeman said. “But at that point, we had pretty good ball pressure trying to take them out of their rhythm. At that point, the talk that the girls had on the floor was phenomenal. They knew exactly what they were going to do, how we were going to switch, stay or go under or over. We just had to grind it out. That’s really what that whole game was about.”
After a UH timeout, the Flavell got the ball just left of the top of the key and buried the tying 3-point shot with 7.7 seconds. remaining.
“We drew up a play and it was for Bailey to either stop and hit the 3 if she was open or get downhill, get to the basket, or kick it out,” Beeman said. “I think she had in her mind the entire time, if her feet were set and they went under, she’d hit the shot. And, obviously, she did it.”
It was another big play for the league’s newly named Freshman of the Year.
“She’s never been a freshman,” Beeman said.
“I think the coaches put us through those moments every week and we’re always working on that,” Flavell said. “I definitely felt prepared. And whether I was going to take the shot or have to drive or have to kick it, I just knew we were going to get a good look. I think that comes down to our training and our coaches preparing us for these moments.”
The Anteaters missed two shots before time expired in regulation.
In extra period, Flavell hit a jumper to give the Wahine a 64-63 lead with 1:27 to play.
The Wahine regained possession, and Lefotu hit one of two free throws for a 65-63 lead.
After a UCI miss, the Wahine rebounded. But the Anteaters did not foul Flavell until 5.4 seconds remained. Flavell, who missed two free throws earlier in the overtime period, hit both free throws for the four-point spread.
The Anteaters had one last grim-to-none opportunity. Hernandez got the ball and needed to be fouled while sinking a 3-point heave.
“I saw the switch out, and (Hernandez) had a good look,” Lefotu said. “I tried not to foul that, just playing the ball.”
Lefotu blocked Hernandez’s shot and during the scramble the final horn sounded, leading to a euphoric on-court celebration. UH post Imani Perez, who appeared to be inadvertently elbowed in the rib area on the final play, was taken to the trainer’s room for an examination.
Bond was a singular force in boosting the Wahine to a 39-30 lead at the intermission.
Bond’s 3 gave the Wahine a 32-30 lead with 1:51 left in the second quarter. After a UCI miss, Bond went coast-to-coast for a layup.
Later, UH post Ritorya Tamilo got the ball at the top of the key and sank her fourth 3 of the season.
With 6 seconds remaining ahead of the intermission, Bond lofted a pass to Tamilo for a layup to close the first-half scoring.
Lefotu gave the Wahine a boost at the end of the third quarter. After UC Irvine cut a 42-30 deficit to 44-42 with 2:46 left, Lefotu went on a personal 8-0 run in the final 1:01 to give the Wahine a 52-42 lead entering the fourth quarter.
The former ‘Iolani star hit a 3 for a 47-42 lead with 1:01 left, then hit another with 39 seconds left, and followed that up by hitting a pull-up jumper with 8 seconds to play.
