Friday, November 16, 2001
[ WAHINE BASKETBALL ]
Goo, UH could Vince Goo knows which five players will start for the Hawaii women's basketball team this weekend in the first of four preseason tournaments leading up to Western Athletic Conference play.
enjoy luxury of
deep bench
The Hawaii basketball coach already
has a starting 5 along with 5 who
are capable of rotating inBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comHe also knows the next five who will rotate in off the bench.
Several seasons have passed since the 15th-year head coach has enjoyed this kind of depth. Seven- or eight-player rotations have been the norm in recent years.
Senior Jana Gabrielova will trigger the offense from her point guard position. Michelle Gabriel, a junior, provides solid backup at the point.
April Atuaia, a sophomore who was WAC Freshman of the Year last season, and senior Karena Greeny start at the wing positions, also called shooting guard and small forward. Depending on the game situation, sophomore Christa Brossman and freshmen Chelsea Wagner and Milia Macfarlane will also see time at wing.
Natasja Allen, a 6-foot-2 junior, draws the starting assignment at the power forward spot with 6-5 junior Christen Roper set to be the number one center.
Jade Abele, a 6-0 redshirt freshman will spell Allen, who can give Roper a break when necessary, giving the coaches a three-player rotation at the post positions. Greeny also can play the power forward position.
When they are ready, 6-2 junior college transfer Arijana Sijercic and 6-0 redshirt sophomore Julia Washington will increase the depth across the front line.
"This gives us more choices, more options due to their abilities and size" when it comes to game management, Goo said.
The coach said players have the offensive and defensive sets they need to start the preseason. A few things will be added each week, leading up to the start of WAC play the last week of December.
Goo also is pleased with the way the team is coming together.
"It's working pretty good I think, but it takes awhile to judge. I think we'll have a clue early."
The Wahine are coming off a 26-8 season in which they reached the semifinal round of the National Women's Invitational Tournament. Goals for this season are being handed out in increments.
"We'll do it three times. We've talked about preseason goals. We're not worried about the conference or postseason yet," Goo said. "In December we'll talk about the conference and in March, when we go to the WAC Tournament, we'll talk about the postseason. We lay it out, but usually the players all have the same goals."
The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic marks the return of former Wahine assistant and Portland State head coach George Wolfe, who struggled through a 4-24 season a year ago.
UH's first-round opponent, Washington State, finished 11-17 last year. Texas A&M was 12-16 a year ago with 14 of the defeats coming in Big 12 Conference games.
Notes: Greeny, by vote of the players, is the Wahine captain this season. ... A schedule change in the Tesoro Invitational flip-flops the first two games. Hawaii now plays Baylor on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Baylor then plays Illinois-Chicago on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge for this game. The UH vs. Illinois-Chicago game remains Dec. 9 at 5 p.m.
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort Classic GAMEDAY
When: Tomorrow, Texas A&M vs. Portland State, 1 p.m.; Hawaii vs. Wash. State, 3 p.m. Sunday, third place, 1 p.m.; championship, 3 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
TV: None.
Radio: None.
Tickets: All general admission. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $4 for children (age 4-17) and UH students.
Parking: $3
HAWAII (0-0) TOP RETURNING SCORERS
Pts. Avg. Reb. G Jana Gabrielova (Sr.) 304 8.9 103 G April Atuaia (So.) 217 6.4 156 C Christen Roper (Fr.) 183 5.4 199 WASHINGTON STATE (0-0)
Pts. Avg. Reb. C Brittany Hawks (Sr.) 249 8.9 145 G Jessica Ottmar (Jr.) 140 5.0 101 PORTLAND STATE (0-0)
Pts. Avg. Reb. G Nikki Petticrew (Jr.) 261 9.3 109 F Sarah Hedgepeth (So.) 196 7.0 162 G Krishelle Jessee (Sr.) 153 5.5 53 TEXAS A&M (0-0)
Pts. Avg. Reb. G LaToya Rose (Sr.) 258 9.6 66 G Toccara Williams (So.) 235 8.4 134 C Lynn Classen (Jr.) 155 5.5 104 Notes: The Wahine lead the series with Washington State, 2-0. UH and Portland State have split four previous games. This is Hawaii's first meeting with Texas A&M.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
