This was the defensive effort Dana Takahara-Dias wanted.

The Hawaii women's basketball team applied the clamps on San Francisco to earn its first home win of the season, 58-48 last night at the Stan Sheriff Center.

A crowd of 552 saw the Rainbow Wahine (2-4) snap a four-game losing streak by seizing the game with an 11-4 run to open the second half. UH maintained a double-digit lead for the final 7 minutes, 15 seconds in earning opponent season lows in points and field-goal percentage (.340).

UH yielded 84 points per game entering the night, but easily posted its best defensive effort under Takahara-Dias.

“;It was really nice to put together two halves and really play both ends of the floor also, offense and defense,”; the first-year coach said. “;I look at the effort of our team, tonight we were down again (seven early), but were able to claw back and maintain the lead to the end.”;

A considerable size advantage had much to do with it. UH grabbed 17 offensive rebounds on the way to a 44-27 domination in rebounds and 32-14 advantage in points in the paint. The turnover bug was also less of a factor as UH gave the ball away 17 times.

The Wahine also got all-around offensive production in their first game without freshman Shawna Kuehu, a leading scorer whose season ended on Sunday with a torn ACL. Junior guard Leilani Galdones came off the bench for a team-high 10 points and was a big part of UH besting USF in bench points, 26-7.

“;(Snapping the streak) has been wanted,”; Galdones said. “;We knew we could win tonight ... we really wanted to smash this team. Yeah.”;

Hawaii opened the second half with an 11-4 run on the Dons (3-5), who had few options besides Rheina Ale (18 points), Vania Singleterry (14) and Mel Khlok (seven). The rest of USF combined for nine points; the Dons became a perimeter-oriented team, hoisting 19 3-pointers, but knocking down only five.

UH outrebounded USF more than 2-to-1 in the first half, but led only 29-27 at halftime.

Julita Bungaite made her Hawaii debut after sitting out last year as a redshirt and the first five games of this season from an NCAA ruling on her eligibility. She started and had three points on 1-for-4 shooting.

It was UH's last home game until Kent State on Dec. 29. The Wahine head to Laie for the Hukilau Invitational tournament at Brigham Young-Hawaii today and tomorrow. UH plays Division II BYUH (1-1) at 4 p.m. today and BYU (3-2) tomorrow at 1 p.m.