Saturday, January 30, 1999

Star-Bulletin
After a disappointing freshman year, Wahine
forward Crystal Lee has been a key member of
the squad this season.

---

Improved Lee a
key for Wahine

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

When Crystal Lee went home to Spokane, Wash., last summer, Hawaii head women's basketball coach Vince Goo had a simple message for the 5-foot-11 forward: "Spend a lot of time in the gym."

"Obviously they weren't satisfied with the way I was playing last year," Lee said.

"I did that. I played full court. I lifted. I did the running. I did what I had to do. When I came back this fall there was no worrying about whether I was going to be in shape or not, because I knew I was."

It was a much different return to Manoa than when she arrived as a freshman, not knowing what to expect and quickly discovering the demands of the college game were far greater than her high school experience.

Lee was one of a five-member freshman class in the fall of 1997 and feels the group did a lot of mutual adjusting.

"Usually the academics are more challenging when you go to college, but I think athletics has been more demanding, not that school is easy by any means, but a student-athlete is pulled in so many different directions at one time," Lee said. "You definitely have to manage your time much better than you did in high school."

A first-team, all-league selection in volleyball, basketball and softball at Central Valley High School, Lee boiled her college choices down to UH, Pepperdine and Idaho before "that something about Hawaii" lured her here.

"When I came to Hawaii (on a recruiting trip), I realized I wanted to get out of the Northwest and experience something different," she said. "I liked the players and coaching staff and the whole idea of Hawaii was kind of exciting."

The coaches offered all five newcomers the opportunity to redshirt. Lee declined. She played in 16 games as a freshman, averaging about five minutes of action. Yes, it was frustrating sitting on the bench, but a 24-4 Wahine season did a lot to mollify that feeling.

"I think any athlete who is the least bit competitive is going to want to be out on the court," she said. "Even though my playing time was minimal ... to go on the trips and see the action rather than being off the court helped."

So did heeding Goo's orders for the summer.

Her work ethic in practice is vastly improved this year, according to Wahine assistant coach Serenda Valdez.

Being in shape has raised the level of her defensive play. It also means not losing your shot because your legs are gone.

"Going from last year to this year, it's a dramatic change," Lee said. "They have me in a position where I'm expected to perform, where they need me to perform.

"Yet, when I came out this year I was playing like a freshman, making freshman mistakes in the preseason. As far as the last few games, you just hope as you get older you're more consistent."

Then, a week ago last Sunday, Goo had another directive for Lee.

"After we lost to Utah, Vince said on the plane ride back, 'know the 4 position (power forward) by the next practice, know every offensive pattern.' "

Since Lee, who plays the 3 spot (small forward), was switching positions (at least for the San Diego State game) with Raylene Howard, the two held their own crash course in learning each other's routines.

They learned well from each other. Lee had her first career double double (13 points, 10 rebounds), and Howard shot 50 percent from the field and scored 19 points as the Wahine ended a three-game losing streak.

Lee is third on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg), is tied with Hedy Liu for second in rebounds (85) and is third in assists (40), while averaging 31 minutes a game.

"One thing Crystal does well is, when she gets the ball down low against someone her size, she either gets a basket of gets fouled. She finishes well," Valdez said. "She has good moves when she is stationary, posts up and goes one-on-one. She's not predictable with her back to the basket, because most defenses don't get enough looks at her on film to know what she is going to do."

One thing the coaches are working on with Lee is having her finish overhand more rather than her preferred underhand style so she'll draw more fouls.

Asked if she had other interests beside school and basketball, Lee responded with a mischievous laugh, then said "Do we have free time? I suppose on our days off. I really enjoy the beach and I'm a shopaholic."

She obviously doesn't enjoy those pursuits too often. An elementary education major, Lee carries a 3.2 grade point average.