PLAYBOOK
Asahi Rainbow
Wahine Classic
Teams: Hawaii (1-2), Virginia Commonwealth Rams (1-1), Long Beach State 49ers (1-0), Texas Longhorns (1-1), Virginia Cavaliers (0-1), Portland Pilots (2-1), Washington Huskies (1-2), Grambling State Lady Tigers (1-0).
Coaches: Virginia Commonwealth, David Glass, 7th season (67-100, .401), Long Beach State, Dallas Boychuk-Bolla, 5th season (52-60, .464), Texas, Jody Conradt, 30th season (726-223, .765), Portland, Jim Sollars, 24th season (381-253, .601), Washington, June Daugherty, 11th season (175-110, .6140, Grambling, David "Rusty" Ponton, 3rd season, 49-12, .803), Virginia, Debbie Ryan, 23rd season (501-175, .741), Hawaii, Vince Goo, 13th season (242-109, .689).
Series record: Hawaii has not played Virginia Commonwealth, Grambling or Texas previously. UH leads Portland, 2-0, and Virginia, 1-0. Long Beach State leads UH, 15-8 and Washington has won three of four from Hawaii.
Top players: Va. Commonwealth, guard Liz Remus (17.0 points per game) and forward Tawanda Washington (13.5) ... Long Beach St., Kesha Wade, a senior forward who scored her 1000th career point in the 49ers season-opening win, a 6-foot-8 center Rhonda Smith (21.0) ... Portland, center Sarah Green (12.9) and sophomore guard Kristin Stringer (6.3) ... Washington, guards Megan Franza and Julie Gray ... Grambling, Nakesha Jewell, 6-2 center, and Wendy Devroe, 6-3 forward ... Texas, Edwina Brown (28.5) and JoRuth Woods, junior guard (12.0) ... Virginia, junior guard Erin Stovall and freshman forward Schuye LaRue ... Hawaii, Kylie Galloway, junior forward (17.0) and Raylene Howard, senior guard (15.3).
Interesting facts: The first 50 kids to sit in the Balloon Brigade section each day receive a free Nike T-shirt. Youngsters wearing any sport uniform are admitted free tomorrow and Sunday. Saturday is buy one kids ticket and get a second one free ... WNBA star Cynthia Cooper will give a free clinic for youngsters age 8 and older in Klum Gym tomorrow at 2 p.m. Registration with a parent begins at 1:30 p.m. ... Texas head coach Jody Conradt is the all-time winningest coach in women's college basketball with 726 victories
Tournament keys: This is a bracket tournament so the two teams that win their first two games play for the championship Sunday. With three games in three days, each team's bench strength is important, especially if starters get into early foul trouble. The coaches will be doing a lot of quick scouting and game planning since the teams don't play each other on a regular basis. Overnight adjustments will be all important.
Tournament schedule: Tomorrow, Texas vs. Long Beach State, 9 a.m.; Virginia vs. Grambling State, 11:10 a.m.; Washington vs. Portland, 1:20 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Virginia Commonwealth, 3:30 p.m. Saturday, games at 9 a.m., 11:10 a.m., 1:20 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (Wahine play 1:20 p.m. game whether they win or lose Friday. Sunday, Seventh place, 9 a.m.; Fifth place, 11:10 a.m.; Third place, 1:20 p.m., Championship, 3:30 p.m. Stan Sheriff Center.
On the air: Hawaii vs.Virginia Commonwealth, live at 3:30 p.m., tomorrow, on KFVE (Channel 5). Hawaii's game Sunday live on KCCN (1420 AM).
RealAudio: http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu/Sportslive/listen.html
By Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii
