Howard WAC
player of week

Raylene Howard was named player of the week in the Western Athletic Conference after leading Hawaii to the championship of the Hawaii Invitational.

Howard averaged 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in the tournament. The 5-foot-11 senior forward was 20-of-37 (.541) from the field, 4-of-6 from 3-point range and 22-of-28 (.786) from the free throw line. She was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

For Howard, the awards are nice and credits to her teammates for making them possible. One of the most consistent players in Wahine history, Howard's court philosophy is very straight forward.

"When I go out there I want to give 100 percent. I don't want one minute to go by where I'm not giving my best for the team," she said.

Howard currently leads the WAC in scoring (18.6 points per game), is fourth in field goal percentage (.539) and sixth in free throw percentage (.806) and rebounding (6.8).

Statistically speaking

After posting solid numbers, Kyla Evers and Kylie Galloway joined Howard on the Hawaii Invitational all-tournament team.

Evers was 16-for-25 (.640) from the field, made two of four 3-pointers, went 11-for-19 (.579) from the free throw line and averaged 15.0 points per game. She had 16 assists, 15 turnovers, but made seven steals.

Surprisingly, Evers, the Wahine point guard, led the team with 26 rebounds although longer rebounds occurred more often because UH's three opponents launched 58 3-point attempts.

"It feels great to be all-tournament. Iwas really surprised," Evers said. "I didn't think that would ever happen. I guess I had a pretty good tournament and I'm really happy, but I guess I'd better keep it up."

Galloway shot 50 percent (15-for-30) from the field, hit 5-of-12 3-pointers, made 9-of-10 free throws and averaged 14.7 points per game.

She is 31-for-32 in free throws this season. Her only miss came in Klum Gym so she is still perfect in 30 attempts at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The Wahine's six-game winning streak is the longest since they won 19 consecutive games during the 1997-98 season.

Hmmmmmm

After a 3-0 week, Hawaii received two votes in this week's Associated Press women's poll to tie for 41st place with Alabama and St. Joseph. That's a minimal move from a two-way tie for 42nd place last week.

Texas (6-2), the team the Wahine (7-2) beat in the championship game of the Asahi Rainbow Wahine Classic Nov. 28, has won three consecutive games since leaving the islands and moved from No. 26 into the 25th position. The Longhorns had been out of the Top 25 for 39 weeks.

Future double duty

Christen Roper looks forward to the day the women's track and field program becomes a reality at UH. The 6-foot-5 Wahine center was an all-California Interscholastic Federation selection in the shot put and discus her senior year at Nordhoff High School in Ojai, Calif.

A couple of Los Angeles schools were interested in recruiting her for track and field, but the fact UH hopes to have its women's program going by the time Roper is a senior did not enter into her decision to sign with Hawaii.

"I just love track and field. I want to try it here if they get a team, especially in my fifth year," Roper said.

Looking ahead

Hawaii has mailed contracts to teams interested in participating in one of the Wahine tournaments next year. The schools are Arizona State, Michigan (44th in yesterday's Associated Press poll), North Carolina State (No. 4 in the AP poll), Stephen F. Austin, Western Kentucky and Wisconsin (35th in the AP poll).

For the 2001-2002 season, Tennessee, Stanford, Georgia, Iowa State, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Rutgers have contacted UH about being included in one of the Wahine tournaments.

Hawaii has signed a letter of agreement with current No. 1 Connecticut to have the Huskies play here in a 2002-2003 preseason tournament.

"Most of them want to be in the Thanksgiving Classic. That's the most appealing tournament," said UH assistant coach Jon Newlee, charged with putting together a representative, yet demanding preseason schedule for the Wahine.

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By Al Chase, Star-Bulletin