Radford coach David Lane inserted Akalaini "Bui" Baravilala into the lineup to start the second half in an effort to go small yesterday against Maui.

It led to a big surge.

Baravilala, a 5-foot-6 sophomore, scored nine points during a 16-2 run to open the second half as Radford beat Maui, 44-38, in the first round of the Hawaiian Airlines/HHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championships at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"Bui got us off to a good start with her aggressiveness," Lane said. "We went small and left her in there. She wasn't a starter. She got us off to the quick start and the momentum shifted in the first minute."

Baravilala had only two points in two minutes in the first half. She finished with 11 points, on 5-of-8 shooting, and two steals in 16 minutes.

"When I went in, I went in strong," she said.

Brittini Fuller capped the rally with a 3-pointer from the right wing as the Rams took a 34-24 lead with 2:28 left in the third.

Radford (14-2) extended its man-to-man defense full court to open the second half and forced nine turnovers in the third period. Most of its points during the run came in transition.

"Radford ran the ball," Maui coach Gilbert Silva said. "They had some quick points, and we started to chase."

Maui (10-5), which made just 3 of 21 shots in the second half, got as close as six after Radford took its 10-point advantage.

Radford 6-foot freshman center Ta Nitra Byrd had 15 points, nine rebounds and four steals against a Sabers team that had two players 6 foot or taller.

"Ta Nitra, when we play against big teams like that, she just needs to be patient and pick her spots and board," Lane said. "She got a lot of second-chance rebounds tonight."

Hotia Vaaimamao had 12 points and eight rebounds to lead Maui.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.