Thursday, January 7, 1999

Wahine picked
to win division

UH coach Vince Goo feels it's
a tossup between three teams

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

The Western Athletic Conference coaches picked Hawaii to win the Pacific Division in their preseason poll followed by defending league champion New Mexico and Utah.

Based on preseason results, the coaches had a pretty good idea of what each school had going when they voted.

However, UH head coach Vince Goo said the Wahine probably wouldn't have been the top pick if the vote had been taken after junior forward Kylie Page was injured and lost for the season.

If the vote were taken today, Goo feels first place would be a tossup between UH, New Mexico and Utah.

"After Kylie went down we had serious doubts, but after our first 12 games we told the team that we can make a serious run at this Pacific Division title," Goo said.

"The very next day was one of our best practices after she got hurt. It was surprising, but it showed a little maturity even though chronologically were not. I think mental attitude is carrying us a long way right now.

"Our RPI rating has gone from 62 to 32 to 27 this week, 27th best in the country."

If the Wahine benefited from a preseason schedule that included four encounters with Top 25 teams, it will show in the next two months.

"Even though we are coming off a loss (Texas Tech), we felt positive about some things," said Goo, in his 12th season at the Wahine helm. "The biggest thing was knowing you can compete against that level."

The real season starts tonight at 7 at the Stan Sheriff Center when the Texas-El Paso Miners make their first-ever Hawaii appearance in the WAC Pacific Division opener for both teams.

A brief look at UH's division foes.

UTEP Miners

Coach: Sandra Rushing (9th season, 104-124).

Season: 6-6.

Top players: Kristi Lattin, 6-0 senior center (13.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg) with strong inside moves. Also leads team with 29 steals. Named to all-tournament team at the Houston Lady Cougar Tournament. Was UTEP's "sixth man" most of last season; Kim Daniel, 5-8 senior guard (13.2 ppg); Datechia Specht, 6-1 senior forward (9.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg).

Interesting facts: UH and UTEP have played just once before, with the Wahine winning 67-66 in El Paso, Jan. 7, 1991 ... Rushing was named WAC Mountain Division Co-Coach of the Year last season, when the Miners finished tied for third in the division and recorded 10 conference victories for the first time ever. She also still holds the single-season record for free throw percentage at Alabama (86.7 in 1984-85) ... Raylene Howard has led UH in scoring in 10 of 12 preseason games. Crystal Lee topped the Wahine in the other two ... The Miners have yet to have the full squad available for practice due to injuries..

Keys to the game: The Miners (6-6) rolled to a 6-1 start, then lost all five games they played in December. UTEP is ranked No. 18 nationally in scoring defense, allowing 58.1 points per game. UH has held opponents to 60.1 ppg. However, the Miners offense only averages 55.4 ppg while Hawaii averages 67.9 ppg. UTEP wants to control the boards and must slow Howard, tied for 14th place in scoring in the latest NCAA statistics with a 21.6 average. If the game's outcome hinges on turnovers, in 12 games UTEP has committed 257, UH 160.

Tipoff: Tonight, 7 p.m., Stan Sheriff Center

On the air: Live on KCCN (1420-AM) and KFVE (Channel 5)

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New Mexico Lobos

Coach: Don Flanagan (4th year, 67-35).

1997-98 WAC record: 10-4, 4th in Mountain Division.

Preseason record: 9-3.

Top returnees: Jennifer Williams, 6-0 sophomore forward. 13.9 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game; Sonya Bryant, 5-11 junior guard, 12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg; Katie Kern, 6-2 senior center, 9.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg.

Top newcomer: Kristy Loiselle, 5-10 freshman guard, 5.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg.

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Utah Utes

Coach: Elaine Elliott (16th year, 311-136)

1997-98 WAC record: 11-3, 1st in Mountain Division.

Preseason record: 9-3.

Top returnees: Lori Red, 5-11 redshirt sophomore forward, 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg; Tiana Fuertes, 5-3 junior guard, 7.0 ppg, 5.2 assists per game; Kristi Rose, 6-4 junior center (8.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg).

Top newcomers: Erin Gibbons, 5-9 freshman guard, 13.8 ppg; Lauren Beckman, 6-2 freshman forward/center, 10.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.0 blocks per game.

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Brigham Young Cougars

Coach: Trent Shippen (2nd year, 21-20).

1997-98 WAC record: 6-8, 5th in Mountain Division.

Preseason record: 6-6.

Top returnees: Angela Burgess, 6-4 senior center, 7.8 ppg, 4.5 apg; Amanda Covington, 5-5, senior guard, 5.8 ppg, 3.5 apg; Lori Henry Cuff, 6-1 junior forward, 6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg.

Top newcomers: Stacey Jensen, 5-6 freshman guard; Lisa Osguthorpe, 5-11 freshman forward; 5-11 junior guard.

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Fresno State Bulldogs

Coach: Britt King (1st year).

1997-98 WAC record: 6-8, 4th in Pacific Division.

Preseason record: 5-8.

Top returnees: Connie Krueger, 5-10 senior guard, 12.3 ppg, 1.9 apg; Amanda Baker, 5-10 sophomore forward, 8.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg; Tiffany Lewis, 6-0 junior forward, 7.8 ppg, 8.9 apg; Jessie Farias, 5-6 senior guard, 6.8 ppg, 2.4 steals per game.

Top newcomers: Shana Buchanan, 5-6 junior guard; Angel Hines, 6-1 sophomore forward/center; Janie McCombs, 6-0 junior forward; Atari Parker, 5-8 sophomore guard.

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San Diego State Aztecs

Coach: Barb Smith (2nd year, 13-23).

1997-98 WAC record: 4-10, 7th in Pacific Division.

Preseason record: 3-9.

Top returnees: Sophia Sledge, 5-8 junior guard, 10.5 ppg; Charley Murray, 5-8 senior guard, 9.6 ppg.

Top newcomers: Kelly Rushford, 5-10 freshman guard, 9.8 ppg); Atim Otii, 6-1 freshman forward, 7.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg.

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San Jose State Spartans

Coach: Karen Smith (7th year, 49-127).

1997-98 WAC record: 2-12, 8th in Pacific Division.

Preseason record: 2-11.

Top returnees: Ayana Smith, 6-0 senior forward, 9.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg; Natasha Johnson, 5-8 senior guard, 9.5 ppg, 2.5 spg.

Top newcomers: Megan Gluhan, 5-7 junior guard, 10.6 ppg,3.3 rpg); Dafina Dailey, 6-0 freshman forward, 7.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg.

The Mountain Division

No. 8 Colorado State (15-1), winner of the Women's Preseason National Invitational Tournament, is the class of the division and the coaches preseason pick to win the WAC title in March.

Nevada-Las Vegas, Texas Christian and Rice could challenge the Rams.

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http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu