The struggling University of Hawai'i women's basketball team played one of its best all-around games of the season last night against Western Athletic Conference leader Fresno State. But, as it's happened too often in recent weeks, second-half lapses negated what had been a winning effort as the Rainbow Wahine fell to the Bulldogs, 75-62, at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Tanya Smith led UH with 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Tara Hittle added 10 points and 12 rebounds (nine offensive).

Megan Tinnin scored 14 points, all in the first half, and added four rebounds and four assists.

Fresno State was powered by the balanced offensive performances of Jaleesa Ross (16 points), Tierre Wilson (15), LaShaunte Stephens (15) and Bailey Amundsen (14).

UH dropped to 9-15 overall and 3-8 in the WAC. Fresno State improved to 16-9 and 11-1.

"We played really well defensively and we executed on offense," said freshman guard Keisha Kanekoa. "We just didn't get back on defense on one stretch and they ran at us."

The Rainbows employed an aggressive zone defense on the Bulldogs in the first half to try and slow their athletic starting unit. Offensively, the Rainbows rode the hot hand of Tinnin, who connected on 4 of 7 3-point attempts in the first half, and did a solid job capitalizing on Fresno State's 13 first-half turnovers.

The Rainbows led 25-23 with just over four minutes to go in the half, but the Bulldogs got hot from beyond the arc.

Amundsen hit two 3-pointers and Stephens added another as Fresno State outdueled UH down the stretch. Ross' 3-pointer with four seconds left gave the Bulldogs a 36-33 lead at the half.

"We were in great shape, but then we didn't even guard those four 3-pointers," said UH head coach Jim Bolla. "That gave them some momentum going into the half."

The Rainbows stole that momentum back at the start of the second using their usual amoeba defense to force bad shots and turnovers. Hittle's layup off an assist by Kanekoa capped a 9-3 run that gave UH a 42-39 lead five minutes into the second half.

But with UH still ahead 47-44, the Bulldogs' Ross nailed a 3-pointer from the right side sparking a decisive 11-0 run.

The run was doubly damaging to the Rainbows because it included an ill-advised foul by Saundra Cariaga that deprived the team of its most versatile and athletic defender. Cariaga had picked up three quick fouls in the first half and her fourth just a minute after checking into the game in the second half. Her final foul was called as she made contact with Amundsen on a 3-point attempt. The shot went in, but Amundsen missed the ensuing free throw.