The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team ended 2005 on a winning note, but it was far from a masterful performance.

Tanya Smith and Amy Sanders each scored 15 points, and Hawai'i's defense came up big in a physical and messy 67-56 victory over visiting Kent State last night.

"It wasn't our prettiest game, but we won," said Smith of a game that featured 58 fouls, 73 free-throw attempts and 44 turnovers. "That's all I can really say."

A crowd of 516 at the Stan Sheriff Center watched Jim Bolla's Rainbow Wahine (9-2) win a rematch against the Golden Flashes (7-4) from Kent, Ohio, by erasing a six-point, second-half deficit for their seventh consecutive victory.

Hawai'i's streak is the longest since the 2000-01 season when UH went 26-8 overall and earned an invitation to the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

Last night, Hawai'i's man-to-man defense played a key role, holding the Golden Flashes to 20 percent shooting (8 of 41) in the second half.

"We couldn't make any shots," Kent State coach Bob Lindsay said. "You have to give credit to their defense for our shooting percentages."

After trailing 29-28 at intermission, Hawai'i outscored Kent State, 39-27, in the second half. Hawai'i shot 46 percent (10 of 22) in the final 20 minutes.

"I'm really proud of this team," Sanders said. "I think we've grown a lot. In the previous years, we were a little immature and would get down on each other. I think that's the key. Everyone in the locker room was positive."

Hawai'i's Dalia Solia added 10 rebounds. Samantha Scull led Kent State with 13 points.

Lindsay Shearer — the Golden Flashes top scorer at 20.6 points per game — fouled out and played just 12 minutes. She finished with one point.

"We didn't have other kids step up," Lindsay said. "I thought that was the difference with Jim's team. He did have some kids step up and play well when some of the others didn't."

Hawai'i reserves Amy Kotani, Solia, Saundra Cariaga, Cassidy Chretien, Smith and Callie Spooner combined for 31 points, 23 rebounds and seven assists.

"We ended up taking the first group out to get them settled down and putting in the second group," Bolla said of the second-half surge. "I thought the second group got us back in it."

Hawai'i begins its Western Athletic Conference schedule Jan. 5 at Nevada, and return home to host preseason WAC favorite Louisiana Tech on Jan. 12.

Both teams began last night in a foul mood. Midway through the first half, Kent State had more fouls (10) than points and trailed, 15-8.

The Golden Flashes fought back to tie the game at 19, and again at 26 on a pair of foul shots by Mallorie Griffith.

After a Hawai'i turnover, Kent State took its first lead of the game, 29-26, on Sarah Burgess' 3-pointer with a minute remaining.

Hawai'i engineered an 11-2 run capped by Sanders' 3-pointer for a 53-43 lead with 8:29 remaining.

The Golden Flashes closed to 58-55 on Malika Willoughby's free throw with 4:15 left, but Hawai'i ended the game with a 9-1 run.

Reach Brandon Masuoka at bmasuoka@honoluluadvertiser.com.