Thursday, January 10, 2002
If there was ever a point in the 2001-02 season that the well-used coaches' phrase "we take it one game at a time" applied to the Hawaii women's basketball team, this is the week. UH in for 2 tough games
By Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comThe Wahine host Southern Methodist tomorrow at 7 p.m. and 11th ranked Louisiana Tech on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Looking ahead to the Lady Techsters would be folly for UH coach Vince Goo's players.
"We told the players they are playing a good team Friday and a very good team Sunday," said Goo.
Hawaii may lead the SMU series -- 9-1 overall, 6-1 since the Mustangs joined the Western Athletic Conference -- but none of those wins has come easy. Each game always seems to boil down to the final two or three minutes, or, in the case of last year's WAC tournament semifinal matchup, overtime.
Like Goo, SMU coach Rhonda Rompola had to replace three standout players lost to graduation in D-dra Rucker, Katie Remke and Anika Calvert. Retooling the starting five has taken longer than expected. The Mustangs' record (6-8 overall, 1-3 WAC) is not characteristic of a Rompola-coached team.
The Mustangs go with a young lineup -- three sophomores and two juniors, two freshmen rotating in and a sophomore and junior -- off the bench.
Andrea Cossey, who gave UH fits last year with her accuracy on 3-pointers, is SMU's leading scorer (12.5 points per game).
Kaci Alexander has taken over for Remke at center and is averaging 11.1 points per game.
SMU, picked to finished third in the coaches preseason poll, earned its first WAC win last Saturday, defeating visiting Boise State 62-56 after starting league play with three consecutive defeats.
"I think they will come in wanting to move up in the standings and perform better than they have been. And, they have the people to do that," said Goo.
Rompola employs a three-guard offense that likes to push the ball up court in a hurry. But, if the Mustangs can't run, they don't hesitate to fire away from 3-point land.
The Wahine (9-2, 2-0) are coming off a winning effort, but it was a game in which they allowed 17 points in the first half and 50 in the second half when their composure and defensive intensity faltered. It was hardly a model for consistency.
The result of playing with composure is a consistent effort, a necessity for the Wahine this week.
Another must for UH is having Christen Roper and Natasja Allen stay out of foul trouble, although the continued improvement of Kim Willoughby increases the depth on the forward line.
Louisiana Tech women's basketball coach Leon Barmore is not with the Lady Techsters on the current road trip to San Jose and Hawaii. Barmore released the following statement yesterday.
"I have a family member who is seriously ill. I wanted to stay close to home and wait to see what happens. I have the very best coaching staff in America today, and they will provide the leadership and direction our team needs on the current road trip."
Assistant Kurt Budke fills in for Barmore.
UH Athletics
