Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Monday, February 28, 2000
Re-energized Wahine
By Al Chase
charge past Spartans
Star-BulletinThe best way to forget an 0-2 road trip is to come home and rebuild team confidence through hard, positive practices.
It worked for the University of Hawaii Wahine basketball team in Saturday's 69-42 Western Athletic Conference win over San Jose State.
"We wanted to run our fast break. We worked on that every day in practice for such a long time," said Hawaii co-captain Raylene Howard.
"We wanted to push the ball up the floor with crisp passing. We didn't want to put it on the floor. We wanted to catch it, pass it, catch it, pass it."
The Wahine did just that. There was an assist credited on each of the first 10 baskets they scored.
"We had 25 baskets and 21 assists which shows the team has to be playing really unselfish," UH head coach Vince Goo said.
Hawaii never trailed and led by as much as 30 points at one point.
Crystal Lee, making her third start of the season, scored a game-high 14 points, including two early 3-pointers that jump-started the Wahine (10-3 WAC, 18-7 overall).
A starter in all 27 games a year ago, it hasn't been easy for Lee this season. But she has dealt with the change.
"Basically I looked at it as no matter what five are out on the court, there are nine other girls all wanting to play," Lee said.
"There are nine on the bench and it turned out I was one of those nine. I guess that's where the concept of team comes in. Every player who isn't playing gets down at some point, but I tried to stay positive.
"I think the players that are playing are being really positive and I think our bench is really positive and that helps people on the floor because I've been on both sides of the spectrum."
The Wahine finish the regular season Saturday night at the Stan Sheriff Center against Fresno State. The Bulldogs gave UH fits at home before losing, 48-44.
A victory on Senior Night would guarantee UH at least a tie for second place.
Rice can tie the Wahine for second place by winning its final two home games against Tulsa and Southern Methodist. If that happens, a draw would take place to determine seeding for the WAC tournament.
SMU clinched a tie for first place with an 84-74 victory over host Texas Christian yesterday.
WAC women
Conference Overall W L Pct. W L Pct. So. Methodist 11 1 .917 18 6 .750 Hawaii 10 3 .769 18 7 .720 Rice 9 3 .750 17 8 .680 Tulsa 9 4 .692 13 13 .500 Texas Christian 6 7 .462 15 13 .536 Fresno State 3 9 .250 10 16 .384 Texas-El Paso 2 11 .154 5 20 .200 San Jose State 0 12 .000 2 22 .083 Saturday's results
Hawaii 69, San Jose State 42
Rice 64, Fresno State 43
Tulsa 76, Texas-El Paso 61Yesterday's result
Southern Methodist 84, Texas Christian 74
Tomorrow's game
Texas-El Paso at San Jose State
Thursday's games
Southern Methodist at Rice
Fresno State at San Jose StateSaturday's games
Fresno State at Hawaii, 7 p.m.
Southern Methodist at Tulsa
Texas Christian at RiceEnd regular season
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
