WAHINE BASKETBALL
Grice out, but Wahine win eighth straight
MOSCOW, Idaho » Hawaii can run the table in the second half of its Western Athletic Conference schedule when the Rainbow Wahine play Boise State tomorrow night, the only league team they haven't defeated this season.
The Wahine (15-12, 9-6 WAC) won their eighth consecutive game with the 64-43 win over last-place Idaho (5-21, 2-13 WAC) last night.
The win moved Hawaii into sole possession of fourth place as Boise State (20-8, 11-4 WAC) beat Fresno State (16-12, 8-7 WAC) 69-63 last night. The Broncos must defeat UH to tie Louisiana Tech for first place.
UH may be without center Brittany Grice, who sat out last night's game with what acting coach Pat Charity described as an injury to the senior's lower left leg. Grice was on the sidelines, wearing a cast boot and using crutches.
"We want to try to rest Brittany as much as we can so we have her for the tournament next week. I don't want to sacrifice for one game and not have her for the tournament," Charity said.
"She won't practice, just try running a little. If she says if she can't go (vs. Boise State) we aren't going to push it."
The Wahine never trailed in keeping their series record (6-0) with the Vandals perfect. A layup and 19-foot jumper by Tanya Smith gave Hawaii a quick 4-0 lead.
Hawaii led 21-14 at the 10:42 mark after Amy Kotani, who tied her career high with 12 points, hit a trey and layup.
Charity then subbed in the five bench players and neither team managed a point for the next 5:29.
"I was just trying to work some people in as much as I could," Charity said. "I told everyone before the game they had to be ready to play tonight because I want to get you as many minutes as I can.
"It won't be the same against Boise."
Although the bench did not score, those players kept up the defensive pressure on the Vandals.
Janevia Taylor broke the spell with a 3-pointer with 5:13 left in the half that sparked a 13-2 Wahine run and a 34-16 lead at the break.
Hawaii built its lead to 56-30, the largest point differential of the season, with about 6 minutes left to play.
Idaho freshman sensation, center Katie Madison -- the leading scorer in the WAC -- had a game-high 26 points. Her teammates scored a combined 17.
"She is a great freshman player and I like the way she plays," Charity said. "She lowers her shoulder drives on two or three people."
In the game at the Stan Sheriff Center on Jan. 17, the Wahine sagged on Madison and held her to 13 points. Last night the priority was to stop Idaho's 3-point shooters on their home court.
"We concentrated on getting in the face of their 3-point shooters and didn't help in the post as much," Charity said. "I thought they all did a great job tonight."
Idaho was just 1-for-16 from beyond the arc. At the other end, the Wahine were 8-for-16 from 3-point land.
Pam Tambini (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Smith (12 points, 11 rebounds) had double doubles for UH.
The 43 points scored by Idaho are the fewest the Wahine have allowed this season.
Hawaii 64, Idaho 43
Rainbow Wahine (15-12, 9-6 WAC)
|
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp
|
Taylor |
4 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
26 |
1 |
2 |
9
|
Kotani |
5 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
1 |
2 |
12
|
Smith |
6 |
12 |
0 |
2 |
18 |
11 |
1 |
12
|
Tambini |
5 |
12 |
2 |
2 |
24 |
11 |
2 |
15
|
Lee |
1 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
4 |
1 |
2
|
Tinnin |
2 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
14 |
2 |
0 |
7
|
Cariaga |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
1 |
0 |
0
|
Chretien |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
19 |
3 |
1 |
3
|
Liepkalne |
0 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
27 |
5 |
1 |
1
|
Zagrobelna |
0 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
14 |
1 |
1 |
3
|
TEAM |
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Totals |
24 |
59 |
8 |
14 |
200 |
43 |
11 |
64 |
Vandals (5-21, 2-13 WAC)
|
|
fg |
fga |
ft |
fta |
min |
reb |
a |
tp
|
Otero |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
37 |
2 |
2 |
0
|
Witte |
1 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
25 |
2 |
0 |
2
|
Koppen |
1 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
31 |
3 |
0 |
3
|
Dennehy |
3 |
10 |
2 |
2 |
30 |
7 |
3 |
8
|
Madison |
10 |
22 |
6 |
10 |
37 |
7 |
0 |
26
|
Jones |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Malone |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0
|
Wells |
1 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
18 |
3 |
0 |
2
|
Schlotthauer |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
4 |
1 |
2
|
TEAM |
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Totals |
17 |
54 |
8 |
14 |
200 |
35 |
7 |
43 |
Key -- fg: field goals made; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws made; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes played; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.
Halftime -- Hawaii 34, Idaho 16
3-point goals -- Hawaii 8-16 (Tambini 3-4, Kotani 2-4, Tinnin 2-5, Taylor 1-2, Zagrobelna 0-1), Idaho 1-16 (Koppen 1-6, Madison 0-1, Dennehy 0-4, Witte 0-5). Personal fouls -- Hawaii 16, Idaho 10. Fouled out -- Zagrobelna.
Steals -- Hawaii 4 (Kotani, Smith, Chretien, Liepkalne), Idaho 7 (Dennehy 2, Wells 2, Otero, Koppen, Madison). Blocked shots --Hawaii 2 (Smith, Zagrobelna), Idaho 3 (Dennehy 2, Madison). Turnovers -- Hawaii 20 (Tinnin 4, Liepkalne 3, Zagrobelna 3, Smith 3, Taylor 2, Chretien 2, Kotani, Tambini, Cariaga), Idaho 20 (Madison 9, Wells 2, Schlotthauer 2, TEAM 2, Malone, Dennehy, Koppen, Witte, Otero).
Officials -- Brenda Pantja, Les Williams, Bill Jump. A -- 366.
WAC Standings
|
WAC |
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L
|
Louisiana Tech |
12 |
4 |
.750 |
-- |
17 |
12
|
Boise State |
11 |
4 |
.733 |
1/2 |
20 |
8
|
Nevada |
10 |
5 |
.667 |
1 1/2 |
16 |
12
|
Hawaii |
9 |
6 |
.600 |
2 1/2 |
15 |
12
|
Fresno State |
8 |
7 |
.533 |
3 1/2 |
16 |
12
|
Utah State |
7 |
8 |
.467 |
4 1/2 |
11 |
16
|
New Mexico State |
5 |
10 |
.333 |
6 1/2 |
10 |
17
|
San Jose State |
4 |
11 |
.267 |
7 1/2 |
4 |
25
|
Idaho |
2 |
13 |
.133 |
9 1/2 |
5 |
21 |
Yesterday
Hawaii 64, Idaho 43
Boise State 69, Fresno State 63
Nevada 61, Utah State 49
Tomorrow
Hawaii at Boise State
Nevada at New Mexico State
San Jose State at Idaho
Utah State at Fresno State