Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Wahine to Michelle Gabriel played five of the most important minutes of her career last night and they were a key factor in the University of Hawaii women's basketball team's win.
host again
Hawaii will play Oklahoma State
in WNIT quarterfinal after
eliminating BYU in overtimeBy Al Chase
Star-BulletinThe Wahine did not get off to a good start against the Brigham Young University Cougars in a matchup of one-time conference rivals. In their first 10 possessions, the Wahine turned the ball over seven times. In the first nine minutes, the UH offe
nse generated just six points, all by Christen Roper on two layups and a six-foot jumper.
Hawaii head coach Vince Goo brought Gabriel in for starting point guard Jana Gabrielova in an attempt to refocus the offense. Gabriel is more conservative in what she tries to create than Gabrielova, who loves to push the ball up court, at times with risky full-court passes. The two Gabrielova tried last night were picked off.
"Michelle really got us under control. She got our offense going," Goo said.
The Wahine went on to defeat the Cougars, 77-73, in overtime, to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Hawaii will now host Oklahoma State tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The outcome was in doubt until the final whistle as BYU proved at the end of regulation when Julie Whetten made a long 3-pointer as time expired to tie the score at 61 and force overtime.
"It was a set play, catch and run, get the shot off and see what happens," BYU head coach Trent Shippen said.
"We told our players to keep the ball in front of them, make them shoot over you and don't go for any fakes because they'll fly by," Goo said. "But they didn't listen."
Christen Roper, who tied her game high with six blocked shots, had converted two crucial free throws with four seconds left in regulation to put UH ahead. Crystal Lee made two more free throws with 2.7 on the clock for a three-point UH lead.
Hawaii scored six unanswered points to start overtime and never trailed thanks to a 14-for-16 effort from the free-throw line. Yet, Erin Thorn's 3-pointer cut the UH lead to 75-73 with nine seconds left. Even after Gabrielova converted twice from the charity stripe with seven seconds left, the crowd of 3,279 couldn't celebrate until a last BYU shot had rolled off the rim.
The Cougars did an excellent job on the boards, especially the offensive end where they pulled down 23 rebounds. They outrebounded Hawaii, 45-35, made more field goals, 28-23, but only made 8-of-15 from the free throw line where as UH made 29-of 36.
"We tried to force them into the middle where Christen and I could help out and trap them," said Dainora Puida, who scored 13 points and had 11 rebounds. "It was a little more physical than usual, but when you win, it always feels good."
Hawaii 77, BYU 73 (OT)
BYU (19-12)
fg fga ft fta min reb a tp Shippen 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 Thorn 7 19 0 0 40 5 0 16 Whetten 1 6 0 0 18 3 3 3 Leitner 9 12 2 3 33 10 1 21 Jensen 2 8 1 2 29 3 3 6 Rose 3 11 1 2 23 7 1 7 Tuft 0 1 0 0 0+ 0 0 0 Osguthorpe 3 9 3 6 42 7 5 12 Beus 2 7 1 2 32 7 2 5 Cheesman 1 2 0 0 5 0 0 3 Team 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Totals 28 75 8 15 225 45 15 73
Hawaii (25-7)
fg fga ft fta min reb a tp Gabrielova 6 8 10 10 40 3 2 24 Roper 6 9 3 5 40 7 1 15 Brossman 1 2 0 0 4 2 0 2 Gabriel 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 Lee 1 6 10 10 38 3 3 12 Puida 5 13 3 6 38 11 3 13 Atuaia 1 3 2 2 35 4 2 4 Allen 2 4 1 2 12 1 1 5 Greeny 1 2 0 0 13 1 2 2 Team 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 Totals 23 47 29 36 225 35 14 77 Key--fg: field goals; fga: field goals attempted; ft: free throws; fta: free throws attempted; min: minutes; reb: rebounds; a: assists; tp: total points.
Halftime-BYU 28, Hawaii 27. End of Regulation -BYU 61, Hawaii 61
3-point goals--BYU 9-20 (Osguthorpe 3-4, Thorn 2-7, Jensen 1-3, Whetten 1-2, Leitner 1-2, Cheesman 1-2), Hawaii 2-7 (Gabrielova 2-3, Puida 0-2, Lee 0-1, Atuaia 0-1). Fouled out--Osguthorpe, Beus. Technical fouls--none. Steals--BYU 9 (Thorn 3, Jensen 2, Osguthorpe 2, Leitner, Beus), Hawaii 2 (Roper, Atuaia). Blocked shots--BYU 3 (Leitner, Rose, Thorn), Hawaii 7 (Roper 6, Gabriel). Turnovers--BYU 16 (Leitner 5, Jensen 3, Thorn 2, Whetten 2, Rose 2, Osguthorpe, Beus), Hawaii 17 (Gabrielova 5, Atuaia 4, Greeny 3, Roper 2, Lee 2).
Officials--Lewis, Tanibe, Yamasaki. A--3,400 (tickets distributed), 3,279 (turnstile).
Women's NIT
First Round
Wednesday, March 14
Indiana 66, Middle Tennessee 63
Ohio State 61, Cincinnati 60
Georgetown 66, George Mason 56
Western Kentucky 95, Mississippi 92
Thursday, March 15
James Madison 59, Temple 57
Alabama 77, Memphis 67
Mississippi St. 77, Georgia Tech 73
Illiniois 96, Wis.-Green Bay 79
New Mexico 72, Houston 49
Arizona 85, Pepperdine 65
UNLV 59, Loyola Marymount 56
Hawaii 73, Santa Clara 57
Friday, March 16
Oklahoma State 79, North Texas 67
Alabama-Birm 96, Florida International 83
DePaul 76, Northern Iowa 73, OT
Brigham Young 78, Oregon St. 63
Second Round
Saturday, March 17
Western Kentucky 64, Indiana 63
James Madison 78, Georgetown 74
Mississippi State 86, Illinois 77
New Mexico 75, Arizona 62
Sunday, March 18
Ohio State 73, DePaul 62
Oklahoma State 71, UNLV 67
Alabama-Birmingham 84, Alabama 72
Yesterday
Hawaii 77, Brigham Young 73, OT
Third Round
Today
James Madison at Mississippi State, 3 p.m.
Western Kentucky vs. Ohio State, 3 p.m.
Tomorrow
Alabama-Birmingham at New Mexico, 4 p.m.
Date TBA
Oklahoma State vs. Hawaii, TBA
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii