WAHINE BASKETBALL PLAYBOOK
vs. Texas-El Paso Miners
By Al Chase,
Star-Bulletin
Coaches: Texas-El Paso (3-9), Sandra Rushing, 10th season (113-142, .443), Hawaii (8-4), Vince Goo, 13th season (249-111, .692).
Series record: Hawaii's leads the series, 3-0. In the last meeting, Feb. 4, 1999, the Wahine defeated the Miners, 77-64, in El Paso.
Top players: Texas-El Paso, freshman forward Amy Pack (13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game); junior guard Christina Mata (10.3 ppg); senior guard Nubia Doumerc (3.3 assists per game) ... Hawaii, senior guard Raylene Howard (17.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg); junior forward Kylie Galloway (15.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg); senior guard Kyla Evers (11.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 2.3 steals per game), junior center Dainora Puida (9.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg); senior forward Hedy Liu (7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg).
Interesting facts: Hawaii head coach Vince Goo needs one victory to reach 250 career wins ... This is Hawaii's fourth Western Athletic Conference season. The Wahine are 34-10 (.773) in the three previous campaigns and have been victorious in all three openers. This is the third consecutive season they have opened at home ... UH forward Kylie Galloway is second in the nation in free throw shooting percentage, .956 (43-of-45) ... Texas-El Paso is 0-4 on the road this season. The Miners have defeated Prairie View A&M, Texas-Arlington and Southern U. ... Tonight is NAPA Auto Parts Two-For-One Night. All those who buy a ticket get a second ticket free.
Game keys: The Wahine surrendered several easy transition baskets in their last game against Vanderbilt and can't afford to allow that to happen tonight. In that game the players proved to each other they are capable of playing as a team. That fact will be the key to their success during the WAC season and beyond. For the Miners, it's a case of everyone having to contribute a little bit more to make up for the loss of Heidi Walker and her 18 points per game, out four weeks with a broken (third) metatarsal in her right foot.
UH roster notes: Christen Roper, who sat out the final preseason tournament while battling "walking" pneumonia, went through her first full practice yesterday. The 6-foot-5 center lost about 20 pounds and hasn't completely regained her strength, but will be available for spot duty. Autumn Johnson is no longer on the Wahine basketball roster. "At this time, she needs to attend to some concerns that I believe are more important than basketball," Wahine head coach Vince Goo said. "She will remain on scholarship during the spring semester."
Tipoff: Tonight, 7:05 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center.
Tickets: $6 adults, $5 senior citizens, $4 students 4-18 and UH students with valid ID. Available at the Stan Sheriff Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and by telephone at 944-2697 with a $1 fee assessed per ticket. Only Mastercard and Visa accepted. The box office remains open for weekday games and opens two hours prior to Saturday games.
On the air: Broadcast live on KFVE (Channel 5) and KCCN (1420 AM).
RealAudio: Live 'Net broadcast Click Here
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii
