Importance of
‘real season’ hits home
for UH
The Wahine host
San Jose State tomorrow in their
WAC opener
By Al Chase
Star-BulletinThe season that counts begins tomorrow for the University of Hawaii women's basketball team. The Wahine start Western Athletic Conference Pacific Division play by hosting San Jose State at 7:07 p.m. at the Special Events Arena.
This is the first of 14 conference games, each a steppingstone for the Wahine in their quest to win the WAC Tournament and guarantee themselves a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
To put themselves in the best position for the WAC showdown the first week of March, the Wahine need to finish first or second in the division to receive a first-round tournament bye.
That is important to UH coach Vince Goo, who knows from last season what it's like not to have a bye.
"The difference is one more game at the end of the season and you are matching up in the semifinals against someone who has played one game and you've played two," Goo said.
Another consideration is UH concludes its regular season with three road games.
"This year, if we're in the championship game, we will have been away for 20 days. It's going to be an uphill battle," Goo said.
After opening the WAC season at home against the Spartans (4-7), UH (9-1) will host Fresno State on Sunday and San Diego State on Jan. 10.
San Jose State is yet to win a road game this season and brings a two-game losing streak to town after falling to Nevada, 59-52, Monday.
Coach Karen Smith, in her sixth season at SJSU, has been searching for the right starting combination. She has used six different lineups in 11 games.
Two of the constants are 5-foot-5 freshman point guard Courtney Wittstruck, who has started every game and scored 30 points in the Nevada loss, and 5-8 junior guard Natasha Johnson, who has started 10 games.
The Spartans' leading scorer is 6-2 junior center Sasha Spalding (eight starts) with 11.8 points per game. She also is the top rebounder with 7.6 a game. Johnson is next in scoring at 11.5, and Wittstruck averages 10.2 ppg and leads the team in assists and steals.
"We know they have a new point guard that we haven't seen on film," Goo said. "Other than that, we're familiar with a lot of their returning people. We would like to see how much they have improved and if there is any difference in their game right now.
"We're not good enough nor are the other teams weak enough for us to just show up and play. Both San Jose State and Fresno State have good enough athletes that, if you don't play them correctly, they can hurt you. You have to play smart, defend the proper way and attack defenses."
UH will go with its same starting lineup of BJ Itoman and Nani Cockett at guards, Raylene Howard and Kylie Page at forwards and Brandi Ashby at center.
The Wahine are connecting on 46 percent of their field-goal attempts and holding opponents to 36 percent. The Spartans make 36 percent of their field-goal attempts and allow opponents to hit 42 percent.
THE SERIES: The Wahine hold a 22-4 advantage in the series with the Spartans and are 12-6 against Fresno State.
NO COUNTERS: The crossover games against Nevada-Las Vegas do not count in the Pacific Division standings.
WAY TO REBOUND: The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, who suffered a 25-point loss to the Wahine in the Ala Moana Hotel Paradise Classic title game, went on the road again and defeated Colorado State, 105-98, Monday, then upset No. 21 Colorado, 83-77, Tuesday.
"We weren't surprised Colorado State scored 98 points against UCSB because we know the Gauchos defense," Goo said. "But we were surprised they scored 105 at Colorado State. That's good news for us."
WAC Women's basketball
San Jose State vs. Hawaii: Tomorrow at 7:07 p.m.
1997-98 Wahine Basketball Schedule
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
