By Jonathan Cañas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Reporter
Senior center Senaj Smith attempting a layup | Photo by Titus Wilkinson
SJSU women’s basketball scored four points in the opening quarter en route to its 73-47 loss to the University of Hawaii.
The Rainbow Wahine (3-5) came out surging as the game tipped off, scoring the first 13 points of the game.
As for the Spartans (4-6), senior center Finau Tonga got their first bucket on a layup with under four minutes to go after the team started 0 for 7.
UH continued its offensive dominance in the second quarter. They shot 40 percent from beyond the arc in the entire half, going 6 for 10. Heading into the half, the Spartans were trailing 40-17.
SJSU saw its deficit grow to 29 points in the third quarter. The team cut it down to 18 points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter at 44-62.
However, the Rainbow Wahine went on an 11-3 run to end the game with a final score of 73-47.
Wahine guard Daejah Phillips had a season-high 17 points along with four steals. UH had three players in double figures.
Spartan senior Semaj Smith played her third straight game with double-digit points off the bench. Smith scored a team-high 13 points.
Guard Sophia Jones came onto the floor for the first time in 14 months due to an injury on Nov. 27 against Bethesda.
Breakout freshman guard and leading scorer Jyah Lovett did not play.
“We need healthy bodies,” SJSU head coach April Philips said. “That’s going to be the larger piece of it, making sure that we get healthy, and getting some of that on-court chemistry back.”
SJSU continues its four-game road trip in two weeks against Cal State Northridge on Dec. 18 at noon.
