[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]
Rainbow Wahine
depend on newcomers
this year
The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine basketball team begins its 17th campaign under the tutelage of head coach Vince Goo today aiming to reach the program's yearly goal of 20 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Reaching those goals this season will depend on the rapid development of seven freshmen and the play of returnees who did not start a year ago.
Goo substituted five players at a time in the exhibition game against China's national team last week and plans to keep the same strategy throughout the season. The Chinese began to tire halfway through the second half and Goo feels that contributed to UH's rally that saw the Wahine hold the lead for almost five minutes.
The Wahine did a decent job against China's pressure defense, but Goo expects better results.
"China had a lot of experience and anticipated well. Any team we play this year that has experience and quickness will probably pressure us," said Goo.
Junior Milia Macfarlane will start at point guard and have to direct her teammates against opposing pressure. Sophomore Trisha Nishimoto, who missed the exhibition and several practices for personal reasons, and freshman Janevia Taylor will certainly see action at the point.
Goo said Taylor has learned the system quicker than any point guard since BJ Itoman was a freshman in 1996.
The wing positions are filled by two experienced players, senior April Atuaia and junior Jade Abele. They both play well without the ball, can score underneath and from 3-point range, and grab rebounds. The third spot is open at the moment, with sophomore returnees Amy Sanders and Brittney Aiwohi and freshmen Pam Tambini, Bryony Crouch and Dalia Solia.
"Even the one who is ahead for that third spot could be on the second unit to provide balance," said Goo.
Freshman Brittany Grice will start at the post.
"Brittany has good hands, is a good passer and has a soft touch on her shots with a range of 10 to maybe 12 feet," said Goo.
There is depth at the post position with sophomore Callie Spooner and freshman Amber Lee.
Goo's new offense -- a point guard, three wings and a post -- employs less dribbling and more movement of the four people without the ball. The Wahine will use a full-court press on defense and stay with it as long as they are successful.
"We were successful against the Chinese until they started running deep patterns with good passes. Then we backed off a bit and let them come to us instead of taking the action to them," said Goo.
With the China exhibition under their belts, the Wahine should have less apprehension going into their season opener against Lipscomb in tomorrow's second game of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic.
The Lady Bisons are in their first season in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Coach Frank Bennett has starting point guard Kendra Ramsey back along with forwards Monica Blake and Beth Bradley, and post Angie Ester. Katie Beth Pate, a 6-5 sophomore post, set a school record with 65 blocked shots a year ago.
Redshirting at Lipscomb this season is Penny Jones, who transferred to the Nashville, Tenn., school after playing her freshman season at UH.
Tomorrow's opener has Washington playing Maine at 1 p.m.
The Washington Huskies were picked to finish third in the Pacific-10 Conference in the preseason coaches' poll.
Coach June Daugherty employs a three-guard offense led by senior Guilaina Mendiola, an All-America candidate.
Injuries hit the Huskies early as sophomore Erica Schelly broke the fifth metatarsal in her left foot and isn't expected back until next month. Kirsten Brockman, a redshirt sophomore forward, battled stress fractures in both feet before calling it a career.
The Maine Black Bears, coming off a 25-6 season and undefeated in the America East Conference a year ago, have been tabbed to win the league title again.
Coach Sharon Versyp has all five starters back, led by 6-1 senior forward Heather Ernest, who averaged 20 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season and AEC Player of the Year, 5-7 guard Kim Corbitt.
