Points were at a premium for the most of the game, particularly the last five minutes. Trailing 50-44 with 6:29 remaining, the Wahine made one last push for victory. After Crystal Lee hit one of two foul shots, Janka Gabrielova followed with a three pointer 20 seconds later to cut the OSU lead to 50-48. Christen Roper tied the score on a putback to break nearly four minutes of scoreless ball and when April Atuaia hit a pair of free throws, UH had a two point lead with less than eighty second left in the game. OSU's lone point in the final 6:29 was a free throw by Trisha Skibbe with 50 seconds remaining.
The Cowgirls (16-15) had a final chance to take the game but Shelby Hutchens missed a shot in the paint, Crystal Lee gathered the loose ball and the Wahine ran out the final eight seconds.
In a highly contested defensive game, UH shot just 32 percent while the Cowgirls shot just 30 percent. The game was tied 26-26 at the half and neither team led by more than six points at anytime during the game.
Lee scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, while Gabrielova also added 12. Puida and Christen Roper led the UH defense by combining for 10 blocks.
Trisha Skibbe led the Cowgirls with 17 points, while Kara Faulk had 13 points and 14 rebounds.
UH (26-7) will travel to Albuquerque to face New Mexico on Saturday, March 24 in one semifinal matchup. Game time is set for 7 p.m. MST. Ohio State and James Madison meet up in the other semifinal on Sunday, March 27 in Columbus, Ohio.