WAHINE BASKETBALL
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Pam Tambini tallied 16 points, nine boards and five assists in playing all 40 minutes against Idaho on Wednesday.
|
|
Wahine will get strength test
The Hawaii Rainbow Wahine pounded the ball inside successfully without too much resistance in winning their first Western Athletic Conference game Wednesday.
Boise State at Hawaii
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: KFVE, Ch. 5
Radio: KKEA, 1420-AM
Tickets: All seats general admission -- $8 adults; $6 seniors; UH students with valid ID and children ages 4-18 free
Parking: $3.
Note: Janevia Taylor needs two more 3-pointers to be UH's all-time leader. She has 348, one behind Jade Abele.
|
Tonight the Wahine will have to match Boise State pound for pound, so to speak.
"They are a very physical team," said junior Tanya Smith. "You use more energy playing a physical team than you do an athletic team. We have to keep running and running."
The Broncos are outrebounding opponents by about two a game, but in three games with UH last year, Boise State held an 11 rebound-per-game advantage.
"They are really a blue-collar team. They will pound you and they won't give up. They are not a team you finesse. They rebound and block out and you have to do the same thing to them," said UH coach Jim Bolla.
"That is their standard. You have to answer their call when they come after you. You can't wait or it will be too late. You have to know when you go in for a layup there will be contact."
The Broncos (13-4 overall, 4-0 WAC) have won five consecutive games and 10 of their last 11. They are 7-3 away from home. Boise State made a statement last week by going on the road and beating New Mexico State by 15 points and running away from Louisiana Tech in a 68-47 victory.
Sophomore shooting guard Jessica Thompson was the Western Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week that week after leading the Broncos in scoring in both games. She also scored 22 points in a home win over Nevada prior to the road trip.
"I think it is a surprise they are 4-0, but they are playing well in league. They believe in what they are doing, have confidence and are playing hard," said Bolla.
"They play a lot of people and execute well. They do the things they can do well. They have always given us trouble."
Hawaii will continue to focus on getting the ball inside. Bolla wants everyone on the floor to post up, not just the front line. He wants the Wahine to work the ball inside out.
"We still need to cut down on our turnovers. If we can do that, we'll be OK," Bolla said.
"We have a great opportunity if we can get this one, then go on the road and get two more. We would be 4-4 and it's a whole new ball game."
Dita Liepkalne, who didn't play against Idaho, and Saundra Cariaga, who played with just one day of practice, should be at full strength tonight after recovering from colds.