The University of Hawai'i basketball team rallied from 16 down in the second half but faltered at the line down the stretch en route to a 77-73 loss to Boise State last night at Stan Sheriff Center.

Tanya Smith led the Wahine with 25 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks. Iwona Zagrobelna added 13 points, seven rebounds and a block, all in the second half.

The Broncos were led by Tasha Harris, who scored 24 points to go with three rebounds, three assists and five steals. Jenna Galassi, who entered the game averaging just five points per game (9.4 in Western Athletic Conference play), added 21 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field.

With the loss, the Wahine drop to 7-11 (1-4 WAC). Boise State improves to 12-6 (4-2).

A turnstile crowd of 296 watched as the Wahine's ongoing turnover woes — they handed the ball over an astounding 33 times in a loss to Utah State two weeks ago — continued to short-circuit the team's otherwise productive offense. The ball-control miscues (23 last night), coupled with the Broncos' quick-hit offense and 53 percent shooting in the first half, put the Wahine in an early hole.

UH played tentatively at the start, turning over the ball four times in the opening minutes. And the Broncos capitalized.

In the final seconds of the half, Harris ripped the ball from Ebony Jones' grasp and raced for an uncontested layup to cap an 11-2 run and give BSU a 43-27 advantage.

"They were a lot more confident," said Smith. "They really wanted it and we were a little bit timid. I don't know why."

UH head coach Jim Bolla started Zagrobelna and freshman point guard Keisha Kanekoa in the second half and the two helped spark a rally with their intense play on both ends of the court.

Offensively, the Wahine pounded the ball inside to Smith and Zagrobelna, who either scored from close range or kicked the ball out for open shots.

Kanekoa connected with Saundra Cariaga on a fast-break layup, capping a 15-3 UH run that brought the Wahine to within two points, 56-54.

UH was still within five points in the final minute, but Cariaga and Smith combined to hit just 2 of 6 free-throw attempts down the stretch.

"Free throws were a big thing for us tonight and it's something we're going to have to work on," Smith said, "especially me."

Ja'Lara Walker's free throw with one second left iced the game for the Broncos.

"We were right were we needed to be but it came down to four possessions and on three of those four possessions, we turned it over," Bolla said. "We're getting closer."

UH faces Idaho on Saturday, 7 p.m., at Stan Sheriff Center.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.