The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team overcame a cold-shooting performance yesterday to rally past host Utah State, 63-50.

Amy Sanders and Janevia Taylor each scored 17 points, and Hawai'i shot a season-low 27 percent, but still outscored Utah State 40-22 in the second half.

Hawai'i earned its fourth victory in its past five games, and improved to 15-8 overall and 6-6 in the Western Athletic Conference before 726 at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Utah State dropped to 3-19 and 2-10.

"It's a good road win," Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla said. "The second half we played much better defensively. Offensively, we didn't shoot the ball very well, but we rebounded the ball well."

The Rainbow Wahine outrebounded the Aggies 52-39, including 25-14 on the offensive glass. Hawai'i also made 25 of 29 free throws, while Utah State made 6 of 12.

Hawai'i's Tanya Smith had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Pam Tambini had a career-high 12 rebounds. Jessica Freeman and Ali Marchant each had 11 for Utah State.

Hawai'i improved to 6-2 on the road, its best road record under Bolla, who is in his second year at UH.

"For some reason, we play better on the road," Bolla said. "A lot of coaches have a theory, that you're only concentrating on the game, you don't have the local distractions on the road."

Hawai'i played without starting center Brittany Grice, who was tending to a family matter in Redondo Beach, Calif., Bolla said. Grice is scheduled to return to the team today, he said.

Hawai'i trailed by as many as nine points in the first half, and fell behind 28-23 at intermission.

Taylor's 3-pointer gave Hawai'i its first lead of the second half at 40-39.

Utah State clawed back to regain a 45-43 lead on Marchant's basket, but Hawai'i responded with an 11-0 run for a 54-45 lead with 2:37 remaining in the game.

During the surge, Taylor scored four points, and Sanders scored when she purposely inbounded the ball off a Utah State player for an easy bucket.

Utah State got no closer than seven points the rest of the way, and Hawai'i made 9 of 10 foul shots to close the game.

Hawai'i committed just 12 turnovers after averaging 20 turnovers entering the game.