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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:02 p.m., Sunday, March 1, 2009

Rainbow Wahine rally to beat Boise State, 68-67

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

Keisha Kanekoa hit a go-ahead shot in the lane after loosing the ball off the dribble with 11 seconds remaining and Hawai'i rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat Boise State, 68-67, at the Stan Sheriff.

Kanekoa, who led the Rainbow Wahine's second-half charge, took an inbounds pass, lost control of the ball near the free-throw line, won a scramble for it and hit a banker.

Boise State inbounded from the baseline with 4.2 seconds remaining after a shot was blocked out of bounds. After consecutive timeouts, the Broncos inbounded to Janie Bos in the lane and her turn-around from the right side of the lane missed as time expired.

It was the final home game for Hawai'i seniors Catherine Cho, Ebony Jones and Tara Hittle, who left in style after a rough first-half yesterday.

Hawai'i, which trailed 39-19 late in the first half, scored 16 consecutive points over the first 3:37 of the second half to get within 39-38.

The run included Kanekoa throwing an inbounds pass off an unsuspecting Boise State player, catching it on a hop and laying it in. The heads-up play cut the Rainbow Wahine's deficit to 39-33 with 17:10 left.

Megan Tinnin's layup off an assist from Kanekoa and Cho's 3-pointer from the left wing completed the surge with 16:23 remaining.

The Broncos restored order by switching to a 2-3 zone.

Heather Pilcher scored six points as Boise State went on a 15-6 run to take a 54-44 lead with 12:35 remaining.

Hawai'i responded with a 15-4 run to take a 59-58 lead with 4:30 remaining. Tinnin, who had missed her first six 3-point attemps, capped things with a trey from the right wing.

Boise State was in good shape after Bos hit two free throws to put the Broncos ahead 67-63 with 1:03 remaining, but Tinnin hit another 3-pointer five seconds later to get Hawai'i within one.

The Broncos were called for a charge with 32 seconds remaining, setting up Kanekoa's game-winner.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.