WAHINE BASKETBALL PLAYBOOK
@ Southern Methodist
Lady Mustangs
Tipoff -- Tomorrow, 3 p.m., Moody Coliseum, Dallas.
Coaches -- Hawaii, Vince Goo, 14th season (279-120, .699); Southern Methodist, Rhonda Rompola, 10th season (199-101, .663).
Season -- Hawaii (18-4 overall, 9-2 conference); Southern Methodist (12-10 overall, 7-4 conference).
Series -- Hawaii's leads, 7-1. Last meeting: The Wahine defeated SMU, 74-56, Jan. 7, 2001 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Top players -- Hawaii, forward Kylie Galloway (6-foot Sr., 15.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game); forward Crystal Lee (5-11 Sr., 15.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg), center Dainora Puida (6-4 Sr., 10.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg), and guard Jana Gabrielova (5-6 Jr., 9.0 ppg, 3.7 assists per game). ... Southern Methodist, guard D-dra Rucker (5-10 Sr., 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg); center Katie Remke (6-2 Sr., 10.0 ppg, 8.6 rpg), and guard Andrea Cossey (5-11 Fr., 8.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg).
Keys -- Aside from wanting to even the score with UH this season, the Lady Mustangs have added incentive as coach Rompola goes after her 200th career victory. ... Hawaii has stayed in games with its defense, and has steadily built leads once its offense clicks. ... It's been six weeks since the teams last played. The Wahine will have to adjust to SMU's improvements and vice versa. "We need to read our players and see what's going on out there," Goo said. Making in-game adjustments has been a strength for Hawaii this year. ... UH's bench needs to continue the quality production it has shown in recent weeks. ... Finally, contain D-dra Rucker as much as possible. She can ignite an offense.
Also of note -- This is Vince Goo's 400th game as Wahine head coach. ... UH and SMU average about the same number of points a game, but the Wahine hold opponents to an average of 11 less (57.2 to 68.8) a game ... Hawaii is third in the country in field goal percentage (.341) defense. ... Dainora Puida is tied for third in the Western Athletic Conference with five double-double games. ... The Lady Mustangs have stolen the ball 223 times, 102 times more than they have had it stolen.
On the air -- Broadcast live on KCCN radio (1420 AM).
RealAudio: 'Net broadcast Click Here
Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
