UH WAHINE BASKETBALL
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
UH's Brittany Grice shot over Campbell's Marlena Murphy on Dec. 17 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
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Wahine, Flashes alike
The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine and Kent State Golden Flashes basketball teams have several things in common entering their two-game series.
They are both 7-2 to start the year and have won five of their last six games.
They each took a short Christmas break. The Wahine have been off since their last practice Dec. 19 and the Golden Flashes last played Dec. 21.
KENT STATE AT HAWAII
When: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.; Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: None
Radio: Both games live, KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: All seats general admission. $7 adults, $5 seniors. UH students with valid ID and children age 4-18 free
Parking: $3
Notes: This is the first time UH has played Kent State
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These are the last two games for each squad before they open conference play, Hawaii at Nevada on Jan. 5 and Kent State at Ohio on Jan. 8.
"We were in good shape after the Campbell series, but we've been off for nine days and we're back to square one," Hawaii coach Jim Bolla said. "I expect us to be a little bit rusty.
"Our concern is: Are we going to be slow getting going."
Kent State plays an up-tempo game just like the Wahine.
Lindsay Shearer, a 6-foot-1 forward, leads the Golden Flashes in scoring with 21.3 points per game and rebounds (63). However, the scoring is spread out after that as six other players average between five and eight points a game.
Kent State's tall starting lineup includes 6-5 Tiffany LaFleur in the post and three guards: 5-9 Kacie Vavrek, 5-9 Rachel Bennett and 5-8 Malika Willoughby.
The Golden Flashes have defeated Lipscomb, Auburn in overtime, Elon, Montana State, St. Bonaventure, Alcorn State and Radford in double overtime.
"They have a player (Shearer) who reminds me a lot of (former Wahine) Jade Abele. She can play inside out and shoots the 3," UH associate coach Pat Charity said.
The Wahine returned to practice last night.
"We had them run to see who ate a lot over the holiday," Bolla said.
"We just need to continue doing what we have been doing," the coach added. "We have people who are playing well and we have subs coming off the bench who are playing well."
Senior guard Amy Sanders is back after missing the second game against Campbell with an undisclosed illness. Sanders, the second leading scorer at 13.0 points a game, played little in the first Campbell game but missed the rematch, ending her streak of 92 consecutive appearances for the Wahine.
Brittany Grice leads UH with 13.3 points a game. Pam Tambini and Janevia Taylor are also averaging in double figures with 11.0 and 10.8 points a game, respectively.
The Wahine are averaging 45 rebounds a game, up six from a year ago and close to the goal of 50 Bolla sets for each game. They are holding opponents to 38.7 rebounds a game.