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Notebook
Tuesday, March 13, 2001
The University of Hawaii has made all seating general admission for Thursday's Women's National Invitation Tournament game between the Wahine and Santa Clara at the Stan Sheriff Center. WAHINE BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Wahine WNIT
tickets on saleTickets cost $9 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and $5 for students ages 4-18 and UH students with a valid ID.
Tickets went on sale today at the Stan Sheriff box office. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets also are available through Ticket Plus by calling 526-4400.
Tipoff for the first postseason game ever hosted by the Wahine is 7 p.m.
The decision to submit bids to host WNIT games by the UH athletic department administration was certainly welcomed by the travel-weary Wahine. It also is somewhat of a gamble considering the small fan base that supported the team this season.
During the regular season, the Wahine averaged 761 fans a game and drew over 1,000 just once, for Senior Night.
"We sure would like to find the secret of getting more people out," said Marilyn Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano, assistant athletic director and senior women's administrator.
"I think it's a combination of reasons. It could be a conflict with our other sports. It could be a perception of our opponents. People may want to see nationally ranked teams, and our program is not nationally competitive in terms of being a top 20 team, like volleyball.
"People know men's basketball, but not enough know women's basketball. The individual fan hasn't developed an appreciation for women's basketball."
Wahine attendance has slowly dropped since the 1997-98 season when they were 24-4 and averaged better than 2,000 fans a game. Season ticket sales increased the next two seasons to a high of 370 for the 1999-2000 campaign. This year, 343 season tickets were sold when reserved seating was available for the first time. There also was a price increase.
"I doubt the price increase had an affect," Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano said. "There may be social and economic factors we don't have control over. I think people are still being conservative even though the economy is improving. Attendance is down for all of our sports."
There have been different marketing strategies the past three years.
Louis Wai, Wahine Basketball Booster Club president, said he has some marketing ideas he will discuss with the athletic department administration.
"People who don't even go to Wahine games were asking me during the season why the attendance was down for a team that was solid and exciting," Wai said.
Moniz-Kaho'ohanohano has tracked the development of youth leagues the past few years and said there has been a tremendous increase. She likes the trend, thinks the Women's National Basketball Association is the main reason and is encouraged about the future growth of the fan base.
2001-2000 schedule
Georgia, a fixture in the top 25, and George Washington, in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years, were scheduled to highlight the Wahine Thanksgiving Tournament this fall."We sent them contracts. When we didn't get them back, we called the schools to find out why," Wahine assistant coach Jon Newlee said. "Both schools said they weren't coming and wanted to know if we got their message. They didn't give any reason for pulling out."
This past season, Wisconsin, another NCAA Tournament team, dropped out of a Wahine tournament at the last moment.
Playing top 50 teams helps Hawaii's RPI ratings and benefits the Western Athletic Conference.
The numbers
Senior center Dainora Puida led the WAC women's tournament in scoring with 60 points and set a tournament record with 38 rebounds. She was 20-for-37 from the field and 15-for-17 from the free-throw line. ... The 185 points UH (97) and Southern Methodist (88) scored in the semifinal round is a WAC record for most points in a game. ... Sophomore center Christen Roper has 101 career blocked shots. She trails Nani Cockett (141), Jeanne Wade (115) and Bryna Jones (107) on the all-time list. ... Senior captain Kylie Galloway needs 47 more points to move into third place past Lynette Liu (1,363) on the all-time scoring list.
Al Chase, Star-Bulletin
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
