Rainbow Wahine lose in New Mexico

Junior forward Dita Liepkalne scored 16 points, but it was not enough as the Hawaii women's basketball team lost to New Mexico State 69-57 yesterday in Las Cruces, N.M.

The loss at the Pan American Center drops the Rainbow Wahine to 5-19 overall, 2-9 in Western Athletic Conference play. The Aggies, with four players scoring in double figures, improved to 8-17 and 4-7.

Hawaii held several leads in the first half, the last at 16-14 with 7:43 left. New Mexico State went on a 10-2 run over the next 2 minutes to take the lead for good.

Madison Spence led the Aggies with 20 points and Danisha Corbett added 18.

The Wahine open a four-game WAC homestand Friday against the Aggies at 7 p.m. » Box score, Page 6

UH softball team continues slide

The Hawaii softball team finished the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic with an 8-1 loss to UC Davis in Henderson, Nev., yesterday.

The Rainbow Wahine (2-8) scored in the bottom of the fourth on Amanda Tauali'i's solo homer to center to close to 5-1. The Aggies (5-2) put the game out of reach with three runs over the next two innings, including Kelly Harmon's second home run, a solo shot in the sixth.

Hawaii, 1-4 in the tournament, faces Loyola Marymount on Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Rainbow Wahine finish their first road trip at the Cathedral City (Calif.) Classic, Thursday through Saturday.

Wahine golfers in tie for fifth

The Hawaii golf team is in a five-way tie for eighth place after the first day of competition at the Aztec Invitational yesterday in Chula Vista, Calif.

With only four available golfers, the Rainbow Wahine were led by senior Carolina Perez and junior Corie Hou, both of whom shot rounds of 1-over 73.

The tournament continues today at Salt Creek Golf Course, with UC Irvine in the lead.