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Tuesday, March 6, 2001
Victory in TULSA, Okla. -- Take a look at the 2000-01 season statistics and it's easy to project a victory for the University of Hawaii women's basketball team tomorrow night.
Tulsa won’t be
easy for Wahine
But Hawaii believes it can
go all the way in the
WAC TournamentRealAudio: 'Net broadcast Click Here
By Al Chase
Star-BulletinHowever, No. 2-seeded Hawaii plays host Tulsa in the quarterfinal round of the Williams Western Athletic Conference tournament.
Most of the Wahine know success in Tulsa has been limited and hasn't come easily. Tipoff is at 4:30 p.m. HST.
The conference sold a ticket package that included all men's and women's games. The Wahine could be playing in front of 600 or 6,000 fans. Either way, most will be rooting for No. 7 seed Tulsa.
In UH's first visit here during the 1999-2000 season, the Wahine played their worst game of the year, losing 54-40. This year they won, 54-45, but the Golden Hurricane outscored the Wahine in the second half.
"The time could be a problem, hanging around the hotel all day, but it's a good matchup," said UH assistant coach Jon Newlee. "You look at teams that go there and no one plays well."
RECORD: 3-4 Wahine In WAC Tournament
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-1999
1999-2000
Tulsa, which is 8-19 overall and 4-8 at home, is led by 5-foot-11 forward Leela Farr, who takes a 13.2 scoring average into the game.
Senior guard Athena Pirpich scores at a 10-point-per-game clip, while 6-0 forward Carla Morrow and 5-8 guard Candice Brewer average 9.7 points a game.
The Wahine lead the WAC in six categories, including scoring defense (57.5 points a game), free throw percentage (.765), field goal percentage (.438) and field goal percentage defense (.341).
The Golden Hurricanes' best showing is third in free throw percentage (.719). They are fourth in scoring defense (66.0), but ninth in scoring offense (59.4).
"They are quicker than us, more athletic and play good defense," UH captain Kylie Galloway said.
"I think we're the better team. If we play the way we did in the second half last Thursday (against UTEP), then there won't be a problem."
UH head coach Vince Goo is more worried about the health of his team. Dainora Puida and Christen Roper missed Sunday's practice with stomach flu.
Galloway, Jana Gabrielova and Karena Greeny also were hit with the bug over the weekend.
"Tulsa can be a more explosive team than they have shown," Goo said. "What we have to do is defend them correctly."
In other words, the Wahine have to execute their defensive assignments repeatedly with positive results. This will be a key to getting the offense going.
No. 3 seed Southern Methodist play No. 6 seed Fresno State in the other quarterfinal-round game in the UH bracket.
The Lady Mustangs will come in with a lot of confidence after beating Texas Christian last Saturday, 87-79, with a school-record 13 field goals from beyond the arc.
FSU and SMU split the regular season series with home victories.
Top seed TCU opens with the winner of tonight's play-in game between Texas-El Paso and San Jose State.
The real battle is between No. 4 Rice and No. 5 Nevada.
UTEP head coach Sandra Rushing thinks the Wolfpack could go all the way in the tournament.
The UH coaches agree to a point, saying Nevada is very talented and could upset TCU.
It's just that Nevada has not played well on the road this year.
The Owls, a young team led by WAC Player of the Year D-dra Rucker, finished strong last year, winning the tournament and advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Making the Big Dance is the goal of every team here.
Hawaii and Texas Christian appear to have the best chance unless the word upset enters the picture.
"We know we're capable, but we still have to come out and perform," said UH's Crystal Lee.
UH Athletics
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