Hawai'i's drive for its ninth consecutive women's basketball victory stalled in Boise, Idaho, yesterday.

Michelle Hessing scored all of her team-high 13 points in the second half, and the Broncos beat the red-hot 'Bows, 66-56, in the Western Athletic Conference regular-season finale before 1,910 at the Taco Bell Arena.

"I thought we played better defense than we've been playing, but offensively we couldn't get the ball to fall for us," said Hawai'i acting head coach Pat Charity, whose team shot 35 percent. "We had open looks, it just didn't fall."

For the second consecutive game Hawai'i played without senior center and co-captain Brittany Grice, who is nursing a lower left leg injury.

Grice said her status is not guaranteed for the WAC Tournament, Tuesday through Saturday, at Las Cruces, N.M.

"It's going to be a game-day decision," said Grice, who declined to discuss the specifics of her recent injury, fearing that it could be exploited by opponents. "I couldn't say I'm guaranteed. I am hoping to play."

The 'Bows (15-13 overall, 9-7 WAC) finished tied for fourth place with Fresno State in the nine-team WAC.

Boise State (21-8, 12-4) won a share of its first WAC title and earned the No. 1 seed for the WAC Tournament.

Hawai'i's Tanya Smith had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Amy Kotani contributed 12 points, Janevia Taylor added 11 and Iwona Zagrobelna had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Boise State led by as many as 11 points late in the first half, and extended its lead to 15 with 7:08 to go.

"We had a few more turnovers (13) than we wanted, and they scored 22 points off our turnovers," Charity said.

The Broncos — the only team Hawai'i did not defeat this season — handed Charity her first loss as acting head coach. Charity is 6-1 since taking over for Jim Bolla, who will likely miss the remainder of the season healing from lung surgery.

"We congratulate Boise, they did a great job," Charity said. "They had a lot on the line and they came through."

Hawai'i will be the No. 5 seed in the WAC Tournament and will face Fresno State (17-12, 9-7), the No. 4 seed, on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Hawai'i time.

The 'Bows split the series with Fresno State this season. Hawai'i beat the visiting Bulldogs, 79-65, on Feb. 15.

"Fresno State is one of the most athletic teams in the conference," Charity said. "We're going to have to box them out and do the things we did at Hawai'i. Are they beatable? Yes. Are we beatable? Yes. It's anybody's game at this point. You gotta come ready, because it's one-and-out from here."

Hawai'i led briefly, 11-10, in the first half, but couldn't hold it, and trailed 32-23 at intermission.

After Taylor's basket cut the deficit to 42-37 with 13:14 left, Boise State responded with a 14-4 run for a 56-41 lead. Hessing scored six points during the surge. The 'Bows would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way.