Wahine’s win a primer for Boise
From staff and wire reports
Who cares that Hawaii's current two-game winning streak came against teams with a combined record of 4-49?
It's precisely the momentum the Rainbow Wahine needed to take entering the arena of the only unbeaten home team in the Western Athletic Conference.
Sophomore Megan Tinnin scored a career-high 25 points on 6-for-9 shooting from 3-point range to spark a second-half surge by the Wahine in taking a 67-54 win from Idaho last night before a crowd of 438 at the Kibbie Dome.
The Rainbow Wahine (11-15, 5-8 WAC) moved into sixth place with their second conference road win of the season combined with Utah State's 62-47 loss at Louisiana Tech.
Hawaii clinched at least a seventh-place finish to automatically avoid the dreaded play-in game at next month's WAC tournament in Las Cruces, N.M.
Their final regular-season road game at first-place Boise State tomorrow takes place in the only WAC venue no visitor has won this year, Taco Bell Arena. The Broncos are 20-6 (12-2 WAC), have won 12 straight games and are 12-0 at home overall.
Hawaii will gun for the upset in attempting to earn its first three-game winning streak of the season.
"We played well going against them at home (77-73 loss), so hopefully we can," coach Jim Bolla said. "Our goal is just to be there in the last 5 minutes. Hopefully we can use this as a little bit of a springboard."
The Wahine started as sluggishly as they did at home in their win over San Jose State last week, committing 18 first-half turnovers. But the visitors held the Vandals to 21.4 percent shooting to compensate for it, and the teams took a 21-21 tie into halftime.
Tinnin emerged from the break on fire, poured in 20 points with five 3-pointers to head a resurgent Hawaii attack. She finished 8-for-12 from the floor in surpassing her previous best of 18 at San Jose State.
Saundra Cariaga added 13 points, while Tanya Smith battled foul trouble to finish with seven points and 10 rebounds.
The Wahine also helped themselves by committing only six turnovers in the second half, while shooting 50 percent from the field in the half and 80 percent from the free-throw line for the game. Hawaii notched 16 assists on 22 baskets.
"What we weren't doing was getting set and squaring up," Bolla said. "Second half we squared up. That was the difference, just being a little more patient, and taking what they gave you. (The) first half we were a little in a hurry ... (the) second half we just did a much better job of, whatever the defense dictated, we took."
Center Katie Madison led the Vandals with 20 points.
Hawaii 67, Idaho 54
Rainbow Wahine (11-15, 5-8 WAC)
|
fg-a |
ft-a |
rb |
pf |
pts |
a |
to |
min
|
Hittle |
1-3 |
1-2 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
7 |
32
|
Tinnin |
8-12 |
3-4 |
5 |
2 |
25 |
1 |
2 |
32
|
Kotani |
2-4 |
0-0 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
17
|
Cariaga |
2-11 |
9-9 |
1 |
4 |
13 |
4 |
3 |
40
|
Smith |
3-7 |
1-2 |
10 |
4 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
23
|
Liepkalne |
3-5 |
0-0 |
4 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
0 |
15
|
Galdones |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0+
|
Kanekoa |
2-6 |
1-2 |
0 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
24
|
Jones |
1-2 |
1-1 |
5 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
17 |
|
TEAM |
|
|
4
|
Totals |
22-50 |
16-20 |
38 |
18 |
67 |
16 |
24 |
200 |
Vandals (2-24, 1-13 WAC)
|
fg-a |
ft-a |
rb |
pf |
pts |
a |
to |
min
|
Bakondy |
3-9 |
0-2 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
37
|
Olorunnife |
4-11 |
2-4 |
9 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
5 |
34
|
Curtis |
1-4 |
2-2 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
37
|
Kloke |
2-4 |
0-0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
0 |
3 |
19
|
Madison |
7-16 |
6-11 |
8 |
4 |
20 |
0 |
4 |
34
|
Oteru |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
3
|
Koppen |
0-3 |
0-0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
10
|
Dennehy |
2-7 |
0-0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
14
|
Riedel |
0-4 |
2-2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
7
|
Schlotthauer |
1-1 |
0-0 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
5
|
TEAM |
|
|
6
|
Totals |
20-59 |
12-21 |
35 |
18 |
54 |
9 |
22 |
200 |
Key -- fg-a: field goals made-attempted; ft-a: free throws made-attempted; rb: rebounds; pf: personal fould; pts: total points; a: assists; to: turnovers; min: minutes played.
Halftime -- Idaho 21, Hawaii 21
3-point goals -- Hawaii 7-12 (Tinnin 6-9, Kanekoa 1-2, Kotanio 0-1), Idaho 2-12, (Kloke 1-1, Bakondy 1-4, Olorunnife 0-1, Dennehy 0-1, Curtis 0-2, Koppen 0-3).
Steals -- Hawaii 8 (Kotani 2, Cariaga 2, Hittle, Tinnin, Liepkalne, Kanekoa), Idaho 10 ( Olorunnife 3, Curtis 3, Madison 2, Kloke, Koppen). Blocked shots -- Hawaii 7 (Smith 3, Hittle 2, Tinnin, Jones), Idaho 2 (Kloke, Riedel).
Officials --Carla Fujimoto, Tony Timmons, Bret Gervasoni. A-- 438.
WAC standings
|
WAC |
|
|
|
Overall
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
GB |
W |
L
|
Boise State |
12 |
2 |
.857 |
-- |
20 |
6
|
Fresno State |
11 |
2 |
.846 |
1/2 |
16 |
10
|
New Mexico State |
10 |
3 |
.769 |
1 1/2 |
20 |
6
|
Nevada |
9 |
5 |
.642 |
3 |
18 |
9
|
Louisiana Tech |
7 |
6 |
.538 |
4 1/2 |
13 |
13
|
Hawaii |
5 |
8 |
.385 |
6 1/2 |
11 |
15
|
Utah State |
5 |
9 |
.357 |
7 |
9 |
17
|
Idaho |
1 |
12 |
.076 |
10 1/2 |
2 |
23
|
San Jose State |
1 |
13 |
.071 |
11 |
2 |
25 |
Last night
Hawaii 67, Idaho 54
New Mexico State 70, Nevada 49
Boise State 74, San Jose State 65
Louisiana Tech 62, Utah State 47
Tomorrow
Hawaii at Boise State, 4 p.m. Hawaii time
Fresno State at New Mexico State
Nevada at Louisiana Tech
San Jose State at Idaho