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Star-Bulletin Sports


Sunday, November 18, 2001


[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]


DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH's Christen Roper gets by Washington State's Francine
McCurtain in a Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic game.



Wahine intense enough to win


By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.com

Intensity is a quality that allows an athlete to play with great energy and emotion.

The Hawaii women's basketball team had intensity in the first half and made things happen against Washington State in the second game of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center yesterday.

UH The Wahine hustled their way to a 40-22 halftime lead, then the intensity level waned considerably in the second half as the Cougars' level increased.

A baseline jumper by Natasja Allen and four free throws by Jana Gabrielova were the only points in the final minute, 35 seconds after WSU had pulled to within nine points, 59-50.

The Wahine won their season opener, 65-50, the 13th consecutive year they have started the campaign with a win.

"It would be an honor to coach against Vince Goo," said PSU coach George Wolfe after his Vikings outlasted Texas A&M in double overtime. "We're calling the same plays."

Wolfe was an assistant under Goo for 12 seasons before taking the PSU job three years ago.

Wolfe gets his chance today when Hawaii plays Portland State in the championship game at 1 p.m. following the third-place game between WSU and Texas A&M.

"Just like last year. We had to save the game in the last three minutes. We're getting much better but we forget little things on offense and I did some stupid things," UH point guard Jana Gabrielova said.

The Wahine did little wrong after the Cougars' Francine McCurtain sank a 3-pointer seven seconds into the game. They scored the next eleven points, seven by Christen Roper, and put together a 31-9 run for a 31-12 lead with 6:33 left in the half.

"We executed well in the first half. We told them at halftime that Washington State would come out strong, but our intensity dropped a lot in the second half,' said Goo.

Unlike the New Zealand exhibition game in which the Wahine made 12 3-pointers, they were just 4-for-20 yesterday. Goo said the Wahine were getting good looks from beyond the arc, but were rushing their shots.

Another concern for the UH coaches was the defense close to the basket.

"We did a better job of getting into position before the WSU players got the ball, but we'll have to do a better job against Portland State They've got two good inside players," said Goo.

Roper, UH's 6-5 junior center, finished with 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line.

Allen provided complimentary inside help with 14 points, and, after a nightmare at the free throw line in the exhibition, was 4-for-5 yesterday.

"We shoot 200 free throws each week. I shot 600 last week," said Allen, a 6-2 junior. "The guards were giving me the ball the way I want it. It made it easier for me."

"I was more prepared for this game. I think the exhibition helped us work out some of the kinks," said Roper. "I knew there was some things I had to focus on like keeping the arms straight up on defense and going to the glass."

Gabrielova finished with 15 points while Roper had a game-high 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots.

Brittany Hawks led WSU with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

Portland State 80, Texas A&M 78: Heidi Stuart's desperation 3-pointer with one second left in the second overtime swished to lift the Vikings to victory in the opening game of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic.

The Vikings got the ball with 14.2 seconds left after A&M's Toccara Williams missed two free throws, trailing 78-77. Michelle Tuma brought the ball up court, almost lost it in a trap set by two A&M players but managed to shovel a pass to Stuart on the top of the arc. The 5-foot-10 guard half turned to her left to face the basket and immediately fired in the winning shot.

Note: Junior booster club registration will be held for one hour, noon to 1 p.m., prior to today's Wahine game.



UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii



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