San Jose State held off Hawai'i last night, 68-61, to climb within a half-game of the Rainbow Wahine at the bottom of the Western Athletic Conference women's basketball standings.

The last-place team does not qualify for next month's WAC Tournament. A UH win would have clinched a place in the tournament.

A month ago in Hawai'i, UH held the Spartans to 13 first-half points and cruised to the win, with all 10 players scoring. Last night, before 387 at Walt McPherson Court in San Jose, SJSU was up 13-10 six minutes into the game and never trailed again.

The Spartans were up by as many as 11 in the second half. The Rainbow Wahine cut it to five with 1:50 remaining, but could get no closer.

"They were able to handle pressure defense much better," UH coach Dana Takahara-Dias said of the Spartans. "Last time they had only four baskets in the first half. We caught them on an off night. Today they were a very different team. They played two consistent halves. We tried to catch up at the end but they were tough. They didn't give us an opening to take."

UH (9-18) fell to 3-10 in the WAC with three games left. The 'Bows have lost their last five and all seven WAC road games.

The Spartans (6-19) are 2-10 in the WAC. Every other conference team has at least four wins.

Junior guard Keisha Kanekoa played all 40 minutes for UH and scored a season-high 22 points. The point guard also led the team in rebounds with five. Briana Linton and Breanna Arbuckle had 10 points apiece.

Chasity Shavers had 16 points for the Spartans, who had four players in double figures.

After playing their last three on the road, the Rainbows host Louisiana Tech Saturday at 5 p.m. at Stan Sheriff Center.