Friday, January 7, 2000
Hawaii can prove
coaches right
'Concentration and intensity'
By Al Chase
are what the Wahine need
to clinch the WAC title
Star-BulletinThe Western Athletic Conference coaches picked Hawaii to win the regular-season conference women's basketball title in their preseason poll last fall.
Now, the Wahine want to prove those coaches right.
Hawaii has won one WAC division title, but never finished first. If the Wahine do, they earn the top seed in the conference postseason tournament.
The Wahine are led by senior guard Raylene Howard, the WAC Pacific Division Player of the Year (1998-99) who is averaging 17.7 points and 6.9 rebounds a game, second best in the conference. HAWAII
SEASON RECORD 8-4
LAST SEASON 9-5 (WAC), 17-10 (OVERALL)
The rest of the starting five includes veterans -- junior forward Kylie Galloway (15.0 ppg), senior point guard Kyla Evers (11.1 ppg), senior forward Hedy Liu (7.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and junior center Dainora Puida (9.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg).
"Our major concern is us, getting our offense and defense where want it so we can go out an execute," Goo said of the nine practice sessions since the holiday break."It's going to be 40 minutes of concentration and intensity. That's what we're looking for."
That focus will be doubly important next week when the Wahine make their first road trip of the season to Texas to play Southern Methodist and Texas Christian.
The Miners lost the WAC's leading scorer, 6-foot-1 freshman forward/center Heidi Walker, who was averaging 18.0 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. She played 30 minutes against Houston Tuesday but was diagnosed with a broken (third) metatarsal in her right foot after the game. She is out for four weeks. TEXAS-EL PASO
SEASON RECORD 3-9
Sanethia Thomas, a 5-10 junior forward, will start in Walker's place.
"We're young and have struggled all year," Rushing said.
"Our problem is not lack of depth (UTEP will suit up seven players tomorrow), but inexperience."
Junior guard Christina Mata has scored 22 and 20 points in the Miners' last two games.
Don't be fooled by the Mustangs' record. SOUTHERN METHODIST
SEASON RECORD 6-5,
Their schedule is ranked third toughest in the country with loses to national powers Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Louisiana State and Tulane.
The defending WAC champions lost forward Claudia Brassard and point guard Karen Blair, but had replacements ready to go in Katie Remke and Nici Johnson.
All-WAC Mountain Division first teamer, 6-1 senior forward Karlin Kennedy (15.6), leads the Mustangs again. Junior forward Deidra Rucker (15.1) is right behind.
Senior guard Diamond Jackson (13.9), sophomore guard Tricia Payne (12.6), junior guard Amy Sutton (11.4) and twin sister Jill (10.0), are scoring in double figures, but the Horned Frogs have yet to win on the road this season. TEXAS CHRISTIAN
SEASON RECORD 9-6
Rice lost its starting point guard but return three key senior starters -- guard Marla Brumfield (13.1 ppg), forward Kirra Jordan (13.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg) and forward Kim Smallwood (6.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg). RICE
SEASON RECORD 8-3
The Owls have has won six of their last seven games, including a 60-57 win over Texas A&M Tuesday.
With a new coach and 10 returning lettermen, it was supposed to be a new era for the Golden Hurricane, who lost five of their first six games. TULSA
SEASON RECORD 4-6
Seniors Lila Osceola (14.2 ppg) and Kassie Pittman (13.2 ppg) are the top scorers.
Sophomore Carla Morrow is a tough rebounder, grabbing 6.1 caroms a game.
Coach Janice Richard is in charge of lifting a Spartan program that enjoyed just one winning season in the 90s. SAN JOSE STATE
SEASON RECORD 2-9
Senior guard Natasha Johnson (13.5 ppg) and 6-2 senior forward/center Sasha Spalding (12.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg) have been the leaders.
The Spartans have just two players 6 feet or taller and are being outscored by an average of 12 points. They also pull down 14 less rebounds than their opponents a game.
The Bulldogs lost two key players to injuries -- senior captain and starting guard Laura Paukert (ACL) and sophomore forward Janie McCombs (ruptured Achilles tendon) in preseason practice. FRESNO STATE
SEASON RECORD 7-5
Senior forward Tiffany Lewis (12.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg) and junior forward Amanda Baker (11.8 ppg) have been consistent. Freshman guard Lindsay Logan has lessened the loss of Paukert by scoring at an 11.2 points a game while averaging 7.5 assists.
