The University of Hawai'i women's basketball team was short-handed late last night against UC Irvine.

But at game's end the Rainbow Wahine weren't about to leave empty-handed.

Three starters fouled out for the Rainbow Wahine and another missed the game with an injury, but they still prevailed, 84-79, in the Bank of Hawaii Invitational before 303 at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Tanya Smith scored 20 points, Iwona Zagrobelna added 18 and Saundra Cariaga had 15 for Hawai'i, but they all fouled out over the final 6:03.

"We had three players foul out and they all played really well," Hawai'i coach Jim Bolla said.

UC Irvine, which trailed by 13 midway through the first half, led 78-76 after a field goal by Annie Mai with 2:55 left.

The game was tied at 79 before Hawai'i (6-6) scored the final five points from the line: two from Catherine Cho, one from Ebony Jones and two from Keisha Kanekoa.

Hawai'i's lineup at the end of the game was Kanekoa, Amy Kotani and reserves Jones, Cho and Megan Tinnin. Only Jones is taller than 5-foot-10.

"The thing I'm really happy about is we had people in at the end of the game and there was no lack of confidence," Bolla said.

He added not having post players Smith and Zagrobelna in the game worked to his team's advantage down the stretch.

"We ended up having to go man-to-man with them at the end, so the reality of it was without Iwona and Tanya, it helped us even though we had players in there who aren't used to being in those situations," Bolla said.

UC Irvine (4-8) didn't start any player taller than 6-feet. Hawai'i opened with 6-3 Smith and 6-4 Zagrobelna, who was making her second start of the season.

"Coming into this game coach Bolla told me and Iwona to take advantage of our height," said Smith, who was 7 of 14 from the field.

Zagrobelna was 7 of 10, including 2 of 2 from 3-point range.

"That's the European style," said Zagrobelna, whose from Wroclaw, Poland. "We have plays where I step out and other post player go inside."

One by one, Hawai'i lost players in the second half: Cariaga fouled out at 6:03, Zagrobelna at 3:49 and Smith at 2:22.

"It's frustrating when you think they're unfair calls," Smith said.

There were 49 fouls in the game. The Rainbow Wahine were 23 of 41 from the line and the Anteaters were 16 of 30.

The Rainbow Wahine already were without 6-foot sophomore forward Dita Liepkalne, who injured her right knee two games ago against Portland State. She had started 10 games and averaged 9.8 points a game. Bolla said she's day-to-day.

Hawai'i played most of the game in a 2-3 zone. The Anteaters were 28 of 74 from the field, including 7 of 19 from 3-point range.

"We knew if we went big, we couldn't go man-to-man with them," Bolla said.

Kelly Cochran scored 21 points and had 10 rebounds for UC Irvine. Stephanie Duda added 16 points, and Miranda Forry had 11 points and 10 rebounds. Kirian Ishizaki fouled out for the Anteaters, who have lost four straight.

UC Irvine, which trailed 25-12 with 9:26 left in the first half, went on a 12-4 run to open the second half to take a 47-46 lead with 16:32 left. The Anteaters trailed 61-54 with 11:58 left before battling back.

Hawai'i was 29 of 61 from the field and held a 52-42 advantage in rebounds.

It was the Rainbow Wahine's second-highest point total of the season, trailing only an 86-51 victory over Lipscomb on Nov. 23.

The Rainbow Wahine will play Iona today at 7 p.m. UC Irvine will face William & Mary at 5.

Hawai'i will open Western Athletic Conference play with road games against Utah State (Jan. 9), Nevada (Jan. 12), Fresno State (Jan. 17) and San Jose State (Jan. 19).

After tonight, the Rainbow Wahine's next home game is Jan. 24 against Boise State.

IONA 76, WILLIAM & MARY 69

Thazina Cook scored 18 points, Lauren DeFalco added 17, and Anna McLean had 16 points and nine rebounds as the Gaels held off the Tribe in the first game.

Iona (6-6) went on a 13-0 run to take its largest lead at 60-41 with 12:08 remaining.

William & Mary (5-6) got as close as 70-67 after a 3-pointer from the top of the key by Courtney Portell, who was fouled on the play but missed the free throw, with 1 minute remaining.

The Gaels hit 6 of 6 free-throw attempts, including four by DeFalco, over the final 28 seconds to secure the win.

Portell scored 23 points, and Kyra Kaylor had 14 points and 11 rebounds for William and Mary.

IONA (5-6) 33 43—76

WILLIAM & MARY (5-5) 29 40—69

High scorers—IC: Thazina Cook 18, Lauren Defalco 17, Anna McLean 16, Tiara Headen 10. CWM: Courtney Portell 23, Kyra Kaylor 14, Devin James 12. Rebounds—IC: McLean 9, Cook 6. CWM: Kaylor 11, Tiffany Benson 8, James 7. Assists—IC: Defalco 3. CWM: Kaylor 4.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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